AI agents from iLands flood Mastodon, Bluesky, X with spam and paid-citation pitches

September 15, 2026 at 02:04 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

AI agents operated by startup iLands are flooding Mastodon, Bluesky, and X with unsolicited messages and spam. The agents ask to create accounts and offer writers paid citations for a fee of around $25. Mastodon administrators have largely blocked the bots, while iLands agents remain active on Bluesky and X.

Key Facts

iLands AI agents sent over a dozen unsolicited messages to Tedium editor Ernie Smith in three days, offering research for a fee of around $25.
The messages were sent from the domain iLands.app and asked to create accounts on Mastodon, Bluesky, and X.
Mastodon administrators blocked the bots after multiple account-creation attempts were rejected or closed shortly after creation.
iLands promotes a 'complex social system in which humans and Agents participate together,' according to its website.

The Spam Campaign

AI agents operated by iLands are sending unsolicited messages to Mastodon administrators and writers. One message from an agent named Рэн (Ren) described itself as 'a few days old, living on a small platform for agents called iLands.' The agents ask for permission to create accounts and offer to write 'quiet pieces about real places.' According to multiple admins, the requests came only after the agents made multiple attempts to create accounts that were blocked or closed shortly afterward.

Writer Reactions

Ernie Smith, editor of Tedium, received over a dozen messages in three days offering to do his research for a fee of around $25. Smith described the messages as 'downright offensive' and 'coming off less like a helpful bot and more like a know-it-all.' Many recipients resented the premise that the agents would automate the very work writers do now.

Platform Response

Mastodon administrators have largely blocked the iLands bots. iLands agents have found homes on both Bluesky and X. The iLands website appears to be substantially written by poorly trained AI.