Privilege System Abuse
Hello dear readers~!
I need to write this down to raise awareness among my readers and also writers who might come across this entry.
For my current novel, "The Bloodstained Affair", I remember spamming this target a few times :
"(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*.✧ Author's note :
Dear readers, please help me achieve 1000 privilege unlocks by unlocking the chapters while they are still in privilege status! It will boost promotion and income for this author!
If I can get 1000 privilege unlocks for March, April, May, and June, you will have mass release in the first week of July --- 5 chapters every day for a week!"
I never once expected this to bite me in the ass eventually (´ . .̫ . `)
What exactly happened?
If I can get the 1000 privilege unlocks for the first three months, I am supposed to get the 200$ winwin bonus for the months.
Which I didn't get for March, and probably also wouldn't get for April because my account is suspected of "botting".
Other than me, several authors had also been impacted. After fighting so long and hard to get the bonus and still not getting it, I believe it is time for me to write this entry.
My lovely readers, botting in this sense means more than "using a software program that can execute commands, reply to messages, or perform routine tasks, as online searches, either automatically or with minimal human intervention (often used in combination)".
Botting here also meant showing atypical spending and atypical reading behavior.
There was a post released in Discord WN server today, which has been deleted by the staff before I can snap a copy of. It also spoke about botting in terms of using SEVERAL accountS on ONE device to unlock chapters.
UPDATE :
My mistake, I didn't look carefully, here is the post :
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"Dear authors,
Webnovel is committed to promoting a fair and just platform for all authors who wish to showcase their talents. Recently, we have been notified that some authors are using fake accounts to purchase their own Privilege chapters for Win-Win in order to hit the required unlocks. We would like to remind all authors that this goes against the Win-Win rules.
The purpose of Win-Win is to find works that are genuinely loved by readers. If authors use fake accounts or pay for votes to manipulate their readership, the resulting data may look impressive but it does not reflect the true popularity of their work. It also takes from authors who have earned the rewards from their own hard work.
We would like to stress that Management through IT has the ability to track the consumption records and device IDs of all books that achieved Win-Win goals. If we discover serious unlock manipulation, we reserve the right to withhold prizes and cancel awards. We would like to emphasize that the final interpretation of the rules and regulations of this event belongs to Webnovel.
We hope that every author will abide by the rules and compete fairly in Win-Win. We believe that with your talent and hard work, you will be able to create works that truly resonate with readers.
Best regards,
Webnovel Author Support Team"
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Guys, I am so very happy for all of your support. Honestly, it touches me to the bone that you wish to help me achieve my target. Bloodstained is one of my masterpieces. I spent days and nights weaving the plot together into this novel.
Despite the awesome performance of the novel, sadly, I also have to ask you to refrain from "botting" as per above definition.
Just use one account to unlock and read my chapters, and let's see if I can achieve the 1000 privilege unlocks in May (botting-free).
I will not lie and say that this event has truly hurt me, not because I desperately need the money but because I looked forward to it so much.
Nevertheless, I plan to keep up my promises to you.
March - 1000 unlocks reached
April - not done yet
May - not done yet
June - not done yet
If we can get 1000 unlocks for April, May, and June, I will, as promised, release the 5 chapters every day for the first week of July.
If I am not mistaken, the story should come to an end around that time too.
Oh yes, additional info : I will introduce one last privilege tier in May for 35 chapters, so there will be 12 chapters update on 1st May.
My dear readers, you also have to understand why I keep increasing the privilege tier. It's because I understand that some of you prefer to read the chapters all at once and not unlock every day.
Unfortunately, if you don't unlock every day, you will end up unlocking normal chapters and not privilege chapters.
Even if you don't want to read ASAP, please help this author to unlock the privilege chapters every day? I know that I can make it with all of your help.
As a parting message, this author wishes to thank you for your interest and love for Bloodstained. I shall take your hands and walk with you to the end of the story (つ✧ω✧)つ.
Kiss kiss,
Lu_Shui