No crazy scheme like this will work, because creating any form of anonymous account is super easy.
What we need is to add a layer of trust assignment and authorization system based on reputation, like what Fediseer does but built-in into the application. Then we can quarantine new users, contain their actions until the admin gives explicit approval, auto reject follows if they don't have at least N trusted people vouching for them, etc...
Creating a fake instance to send out votes is cheaper and easier that you think. You need only one domain and a script.
It's public information available for instance admins and any sufficiently motivated person who knows a bit about the ActivityPub protocol.
Another thing to consider is that most servers only accept HTTP requests that are properly signed.
Maybe you can take a look at Fedify if you know your way around javascript development? If python is your thing, maybe my own Django ActivityPub code?
Read the whole thing. OP says.
I guess I will be leaving IRC in favour of XMPP
I have an opinion about practically everything
Where is the /s?
they should perhaps create more content that I like?
Your account is less than 15 days old. You have 57 comments and one single post about politics. Not exactly the type of discussion that is interesting or valuable to the network.
Perhaps you should lead by example and post more of the stuff that you like? It's very easy to criticize, not so easy to actually show up and do the stuff that is needed.
You will need a server that can serve you actor URL and public key. Even a static webpage will do. If you have that, then a simple curl could be sufficient.
My guess is OP meant "easier than hosting an IRC server".
Not the case. I have this laptop for 2 years or more...
I think this is something that affects Hollywood in general and will be aggravated by the dominance of streaming: distributors make money on anything you watch as long as you remain subscribed, but writers/producers of shows will only make a name for themselves and picked for more seasons if their show gets a certain number of watchers. Quality does not matter, only quantity.
So, what better/cheaper way to get large numbers of people talking about your show? By watering down everything and appealing to the lowest common denominator and/or by appealing to shock value.
I still keep the netflix subscription, but mostly because of the kids. But as soon as I find some time to set up my *arr system again, I will definitely cancel it.
It won't stop the people interested in doing mass-manipulation of votes. There is no virtual difference between a bot that votes through Lemmy and a bot that votes through "pure" ActivityPub.