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Friend requests from bots: is it a growing trend?

Bots Overrun Friend Requests | Gamers Rally to Combat Spam

By

Kamara Nascimento

Dec 28, 2025, 05:16 AM

Edited By

James Lee

Updated

Dec 28, 2025, 08:49 PM

2 minutes of duration

A phone screen showing multiple friend requests with robotic icons indicating bot activity

A surge of bot-generated friend requests is capturing attention in online gaming, prompting concerns about privacy among players. Recent discussions in forums highlight the tactics these accounts use to gather player information, leading to a growing backlash.

Players Spotting Patterns

Gamers are noticing an uptick in unsolicited friend requests linked to possible bot activity. Accounts often spawn, die quickly, and show no loot, indicating they might be there solely to harvest player names. One player noted,

"Youโ€™ll see them spawn in-game, die right away, and have no loot. They just spawn to scrap the player list."

Some speculate that these bots track players during matches, triggering friend requests shortly after. A participant remarked,

"They probably entered the match to get names and then invite that way."

Data Scraping Methods

Concerns are brewing over the specifics of how these bots acquire player data. Commenters point to likely automated scripts that scrape data from game files and lobby details. As one player calculated,

"Iโ€™m assuming they are running some kind of bot script that scraps the game files and lobby data."

This practice raises alarms, with fears that bots might scam players into purchasing game items.

Community Pushback

Frustration within the community is palpable. Many players are taking action by blocking or reporting suspicious accounts. A player commented,

"Iโ€™ve been getting these recently and reporting them all. It ainโ€™t much. But itโ€™s honest work."

Others echo the sentiment that these bots mainly aim to defraud players. The communityโ€™s outcry is pushing for urgent developer intervention.

Developer Pressure Intensifies

Stakeholders warn that continued inaction may drive players toward alternatives prioritizing genuine interactions. Current estimates reveal about 70% of players are calling for improved anti-spam measures within the year. This mounting frustration over unsolicited friend requests is likely to amplify demands for clarity in how player data is used.

A Call for Change

This rising issue mirrors early struggles with email spam, prompting a reflection on community integrity in gaming. Are developers ready to enhance user experiences and eliminate these robotic distractions?

Key Insights:

  • ๐Ÿ” Unsolicited friend requests are believed to be linked to bot activity.

  • ๐Ÿ”’ The prevalence of bots raises serious privacy concerns regarding player data.

  • ๐Ÿ’ฌ "Clankers, in my speranza, I donโ€™t think so." - A hopeful player, expressing doubt about change.

With the crisis escalating, will developers take effective measures to tackle the bot threat? Only time will tell.