Abstract
<p>The rapid proliferation of short-form video platforms has fundamentally restructured how public discourse is generated, consumed, and validated in digital environments. Through a qualitative study of 42 active content creators and platform analysts, this research explores the mechanisms by which algorithmic visibility is manipulated to simulate organic engagement. We propose the notion of synthetic consensus: the algorithmic and social fabrication of widespread agreement or popularity through the automated orchestration of inauthentic signals. Our findings indicate that rather than democratizing influence, these platforms have facilitated a environment where the appearance of grassroots support is increasingly a commodity for purchase. The research reveals that platform metrics are weaponized to create an illusion of public mandate, the labor of maintaining this illusion is internalized by creators as a necessary cost of visibility, genuine discourse is crowded out by high-velocity bot traffic, and the distinction between organic popularity and manufactured reach has effectively collapsed. These findings suggest that current platform governance models are ill-equipped to distinguish between authentic community building and the strategic deployment of synthetic consensus, necessitating urgent reforms in platform transparency and accountability to preserve the integrity of digital public spheres.</p>