Note (October 2026): This article originally recommended buying YouTube likes and the service Devumi. Buying engagement breaks YouTube’s Fake Engagement policy, and in 2019 the US Federal Trade Commission settled charges that Devumi sold fake social media influence, so the text below has been corrected.
Buying YouTube likes does not create real social proof. YouTube’s Fake Engagement policy prohibits anything that artificially increases views, likes, comments or other metrics, and YouTube says it confirms and adjusts engagement counts. In the US, the FTC’s rule in effect since October 21, 2024 also bans buying fake social media indicators for commercial misrepresentation.
Key Takeaways
- Social proof is the tendency to copy what other people do; Robert Cialdini coined the term in his 1984 book Influence.
- YouTube’s Fake Engagement policy bans purchased views, likes, comments and subscribers; repeat violations can lead to channel strikes and termination.
- YouTube has hidden public dislike counts since November 10, 2021, so bought dislikes are not even visible to viewers.
- The FTC’s Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule (16 CFR Part 465, effective October 21, 2024) prohibits buying or selling fake indicators of social media influence.
- Devumi, once a well-known seller of fake engagement, settled FTC charges in October 2019.
YouTube is one of the most widely used video-sharing websites on the internet. Most of the business people like to get the better marketing strategies by publishing promotional and educational videos on YouTube. When a video is uploaded in the YouTube then people all over the world can view it for free. Viewers can comment on videos and like or dislike them. Since November 10, 2021, YouTube has kept dislike counts private, so only the creator sees the exact dislike number in YouTube Studio. Genuine likes and comments from real viewers can support a business’s promotion on this social media.
Social Proof and Buying YouTube Likes: Claimed Benefits Versus Real Risks
Buying YouTube Likes And Dislikes:
Creating the YouTube account is very easy and free so that all can register their email for creating their unique high quality type YouTube accounts. The Google verification is made with the profile picture, bio data and also with the unique history. Most people search for the relevant videos in YouTube so that it will be efficient for the business people to target the audience around the world for the business purposes. The YouTube Likes and Comments is very important for increasing the fame of the video in social media. Services that sell YouTube likes, dislikes and comments are easy to find, but YouTube’s Fake Engagement policy prohibits using them, and YouTube says it constantly confirms and adjusts engagement events, so purchased activity can be discarded. With the improved promotion of website, it will be quite efficient for increasing the name and fame of business or any other videos. Promises that bought engagement will make a video reach millions of people within a week are sales claims, not guarantees; YouTube may slow down, freeze or change a metric count while its systems check which engagement is legitimate. Real viewers who like and share a video can bring it to new audiences, which is why genuine engagement is worth more than purchased numbers.
Positive Social Proof:
Sellers of likes and dislikes usually offer different packages, but no package is a safe option, because YouTube treats purchased engagement as a policy violation. Getting the appropriate social proof for the video is necessary so that it will be the best highlighting method visiting the website. Positive social proof can help a business stand out from competitors only when it reflects real viewers. When the positive social message is stronger then it will give the best class way of attracting more number of people on the internet. Devumi, the service this article once recommended, is a warning rather than a model: in October 2019 the US Federal Trade Commission settled charges that Devumi sold fake indicators of social media influence, including more than 4,000 sales of fake YouTube subscribers and over 32,000 sales of fake YouTube views.
Boosting Business:
Social Proof is the main reason some people buy YouTube likes and comments: viewers tend to read high numbers as a signal that a video is worth watching. Boosting the self esteem through the process is possible so that it will be quite efficient for increasing the brand awareness. The higher amount social proof is necessary so that it gives the better traffic and makes the business brands to be known to many number of people around the world.
What Is Social Proof on YouTube?
Social proof is a psychological effect in which people copy the actions of others when they are unsure how to behave. The term was coined by Robert Cialdini in his 1984 book Influence. On YouTube, view counts, like counts, subscriber numbers and comments act as social proof, because a viewer who sees a busy comment section may assume a video is worth watching.
That effect is exactly why fake engagement exists, and why platforms and regulators treat it as deception: purchased numbers tell viewers and advertisers something that is not true.
Does YouTube Allow Buying Likes?
No. YouTube’s Fake Engagement policy prohibits anything that artificially increases the number of views, likes, comments or other metrics, for example by using automatic systems. The policy also covers content that promotes services which inflate subscribers, views or likes, and “sub-for-sub” offers where a creator subscribes to another channel only in return for a subscription.
What happens if a channel is caught?
| Situation | Consequence under YouTube’s Community Guidelines |
|---|---|
| First violation | A warning with no penalty, plus the option of policy training |
| Another violation within 90 days | A channel strike |
| Three strikes within 90 days | The channel may be terminated |
| Severe abuse, or a channel dedicated to violations | Termination can follow a single case |
Separately, YouTube’s help center explains that its systems take time to decide which views, likes, dislikes and subscriptions are legitimate, and that it may discard low-quality playbacks. Watching the same video on several devices or across several tabs is one example YouTube gives of low-quality playback.
Why Buying Dislikes Makes Even Less Sense Now
On November 10, 2021, YouTube began making dislike counts private across the platform. The dislike button still exists, and viewers can use it to tune their recommendations and give private feedback, but only creators see the exact dislike count in YouTube Studio. YouTube said the change aimed to reduce “dislike attacks”, coordinated efforts to pile dislikes onto a video, which its experiments found hit smaller channels at a higher proportion.
Is Buying YouTube Likes Legal in the US?
For businesses, it can break federal rules. The Federal Trade Commission announced its final Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule on August 14, 2024, and the rule took effect on October 21, 2024 as 16 CFR Part 465. Section 465.8 prohibits selling or buying fake indicators of social media influence, such as followers or views generated by a bot or a hijacked account, when the buyer knew or should have known they were fake and used them to misrepresent influence for a commercial purpose.
According to the FTC’s own questions-and-answers guidance, the provision covers fake followers, views, likes and other engagement metrics that do not reflect genuine activity, and courts can impose civil penalties for knowing violations. This is general information, not legal advice; businesses with specific questions should check the FTC’s guidance or consult a lawyer.
The Devumi Case: What Happened to the Service
Devumi was founded in 2010 by German Calas, Jr. A New York Times investigation titled “The Follower Factory”, published on January 27, 2018, exposed its sale of fake followers and video views. According to Wikipedia, Devumi shut down shortly after that report.
On October 21, 2019, the FTC announced a settlement with Devumi and its owner. Wikipedia describes it as the FTC’s first-ever complaint challenging the sale of fake indicators of social media influence. The order included a $2.5 million monetary judgment against Calas, with $250,000 due and the rest suspended. The FTC alleged more than 4,000 sales of fake YouTube subscribers, over 32,000 sales of fake YouTube views and more than 58,000 orders for fake Twitter followers.
Bought Engagement vs. Earned Engagement
| Factor | Bought likes and views | Earned engagement |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube policy | Prohibited under the Fake Engagement policy | Allowed |
| Counted by YouTube | May be discarded or adjusted | Counted once confirmed |
| Channel risk | Warnings, strikes, possible termination | None from the engagement itself |
| US legal exposure for businesses | Can violate 16 CFR 465.8 | None from the engagement itself |
| YouTube Partner Program | Channels must still pass a standard review against YouTube’s policies | Qualified watch hours or Shorts views count toward eligibility |
Red Flags of a Fake Engagement Seller
- Packages sold as fixed bundles of likes, views or subscribers rather than real advertising placements.
- Promises of a set number of likes or a guaranteed audience within days.
- Requests for your channel login or Google Account password.
- Sudden, unusually rapid growth in followers or likes, which the FTC cites as a sign that indicators may be fake.
- Videos or pages showing off purchased traffic, which YouTube itself lists as an example of a policy violation.
Legitimate Ways to Build Social Proof on YouTube
- Optimize titles, descriptions and thumbnails so the right viewers find the video; see these YouTube SEO tips for ranking videos.
- Grow subscribers organically with consistent uploads and clear calls to subscribe; this guide on getting more YouTube subscribers organically covers the basics.
- Promote with paid ads, not paid likes. Advertising puts a video in front of real people; read about the elements of a winning YouTube ad.
- Work with creators whose real audience matches yours, and disclose the partnership.
- Build a recognizable brand so returning viewers engage naturally; see how to build a strong brand on YouTube.
Genuine growth also unlocks monetization. As of October 2026, YouTube’s help center lists two routes into the YouTube Partner Program: 1,000 subscribers with 4,000 qualified watch hours in the last 12 months, or 1,000 subscribers with 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days, followed by a standard review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can YouTube detect bought likes?
YouTube says it constantly confirms and adjusts engagement events, and that it may slow down, freeze or change a metric count and discard low-quality playbacks. Purchased likes can therefore disappear, and the channel can receive a warning or strike under the Fake Engagement policy.
Can buying likes get a YouTube channel banned?
Yes. After a first warning, further violations within 90 days bring channel strikes, and three strikes within 90 days can lead to termination. YouTube can terminate a channel after a single case of severe abuse.
Can people still see dislikes on YouTube?
Not publicly. Since November 10, 2021, YouTube has kept dislike counts private; the dislike button still works, and creators see the exact count in YouTube Studio.
Is it illegal to buy YouTube views or likes?
In the US, the FTC’s rule at 16 CFR 465.8, in effect since October 21, 2024, prohibits buying or selling fake indicators of social media influence when they are used to misrepresent influence for commercial purposes. Rules in other countries differ.
What is the safest way to get more likes on YouTube?
Make videos for a clearly defined audience, optimize titles and thumbnails, ask viewers to like and subscribe, and promote videos through advertising. These methods reach real people and comply with YouTube’s policies.
