Editing Messaging spam (section)

==Instant messaging applications==
[[File:SPIM on Telegram.png|thumb|Messaging spam on Telegram.]]
Instant messaging systems, such as [[Telegram (messaging service)|Telegram]], [[WhatsApp]], [[Twitter|Twitter Direct Messaging]], [[Kik Messenger|Kik]], [[Skype]] and [[Snapchat]] are all targets for spammers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agarwal |first=Shubham |title=Scientists found more than 1,000 AI spam bots trying to scam people and steal their social media profiles — and regulators can't keep up |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/social-media-flooded-spammy-ai-content-2023-8 |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> Many IM services are publicly linked to [[Social media|social media platforms]], which may include information on the user such as age, sex, location and interests. Advertisers and scammers can gather this information, sign on to the service, and send unsolicited messages which could contain [[Scam|scam links]], pornographic material, malware or ransomware. With most services users can report and block spam accounts,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kurt Knutsson |first=CyberGuy Report |date=2023-09-22 |title=How to protect yourself from social media scammers |url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/how-protect-yourself-from-social-media-scammers |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref> or set privacy settings so only contacts can contact them.