Highsnobiety
Double Tap to Zoom

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta has a new PR nightmare to deal with: its proliferation of counterfeit fashion.

According to Reuters, the parent company's platforms — namely, Facebook and Instagram — are struggling to curb rampant sales of fake luxury goods.

A study conducted by Ghost Data from June to October 2021 found that the two social media sites hosted a total of over 46,000 active accounts run by counterfeiters. Features such as direct messages and Instagram Stories, both of which support time-limited "disappearing" content, make it easier for users to hawk fake designer wares in a somewhat private space.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Tiktok.

Of course, Meta isn't the only company dealing with fakes. Subreddits including r/fashionreps, r/designerreps, r/qualityreps, and r/couturereps exist for the sole purpose of finding and discussing convincing counterfeits — the latter even provides a master guide to producing and selling replicas.

TikTok is also a goldmine of dupes. The hasthtag #dupesnation boasts over 5 million views, and some users even show off their newly acquired fake goods "haul videos."

While the sale of counterfeit goods on social media platforms might not seem like a very novel or pressing phenomenon (in fact, Instagram's dupe problem has been around for years), it's a pretty dire situation for Mark Zuckerberg and Meta — Reuters' unfortunately timed report only exacerbates the company's continued struggle to rehabilitate its public image.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Twitter post.

In case you need a refresher: the tech giant was panned for changing its name to Meta amid a series of scandals including whistleblower Francis Haugen's testimony; Meta's stock market value tanked after it reported waning revenue; the company's virtual reality program, Horizon Worlds, introduced safety features after one beta tester was groped in the metaverse.

It's difficult not to compare Meta: A Unfortunate Series of Events to Peloton's recent fall from grace, a saga that's seen the workout bike company go from pandemic darling to TV character killer to lay-off central.

We Recommend
  • Fashion’s Hottest Sneaker Raced Its Way To the Top
    • Style
  • Fashion Gods? No, Fashion Dogs
    • Style
  • How to Style a Scarf à la Lenny, Mary-Kate, & Co.
    • Style
  • Fashion's Sexiest Beauty Launch Is Finally Here
    • Beauty
  • Luxury Fashion Looks Like Luxury Fashion Again. Is That a Good Thing?
    • Style
What To Read Next
  • Lardini Wants You To Forget Everything You Know About Formalwear
    • Style
    • sponsored
  • WTAPS' New Balance Dad Shoe Is Wonderfully Minimalist
    • Sneakers
  • Junya Watanabe's Mega-Metal HOKA Mule Is So Punk
    • Sneakers
  • Studio Nicholson & the Power of Paraboot (EXCLUSIVE)
    • Sneakers
  • Designer Clothes as... Designer Bags?
    • Style
  • Dressed in Denim & Corduroy, Nike Dunks Dream of Being Pants
    • Sneakers