Friend spam
1
Purpose
The purpose of friend spam is to inflate the number of people who are invited to a product to increase sales.
2
Psychological principles
There isn't a clear psychological principle as this deceptive pattern relies on blatantly lying.
3
Prevention
Review permissions carefully and only grant access in trusted situations
How to protect yourself
Review permissions. To send invites, websites, and apps need access to your social media or contacts. Ensure that these permissions are only allowed in situations you trust.