In the age of social media, appearances can be deceiving. Many musicians resort to buying followers and streams to artificially inflate their popularity, but this practice comes with ethical concerns. This article will explore how the pressure to appear successful on platforms like Instagram and Spotify can lead to dishonest tactics, including buying fake followers, likes, and streams. It will also look at the impact this has on the artist’s credibility, the industry as a whole, and the fans. Ultimately, it will question whether the quest for social media fame is worth the price.