News that Amazon is suing in US courts 1,114 people, who advertise through website Fiverr book reviews for payment, so allegedly posting bogus reviews on its website, will surely be welcomed by readers. Advertisers on Fiverr are not the only ones I have seen offering this service and I have even seen those allowing the author to write the review themselves.

Reviews are the lifeblood of authors at all levels, especially indie writers such as me who do not have access to a Publisher's publicity budget and set-up. So where do I stand on Amazon's action? Most readers do not submit reviews, so I can understand the desperation of an author to get some on the board, but it is grossly unfair to those of us who do not go down that road when others amass what looks like far more good reviews through the paid-for route. For the reader it is a question of credibility. However number of good reviews an author has on his or her Amazon book page, they are worthless if potential buyers cannot trust their legitimacy. As Amazon says it may go after the authors next, I do have concern for my fellow writers, but for me the importance of maintaining credibility of reviews has to take preference. 

I wonder if Twitter will be next. Over the time I have been on Twitter, paid-for Twitter followers has become a growth industry. Large numbers are offered, many of which I understand are made up, not genuine Twitter accounts. Again credibility is the factor. The number of followers enhances the status of the account. When we see a Twitter account with a large number of followers, we cannot have a situation where it crosses our minds to wonder if they are genuine.

Very recently I have noted this practice spreading further to Facebook and Instagram followers.

For the record, I have 7 reviews, mostly five or four star on my Amazon.co.uk book page Click here , two of which have been kindly reproduced on Amazon.com Click here .  None has been paid for.

My Twitter author account .DerrickRBickley has approaching 7.000 followers. None has been paid for.    

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