Facebook is trying to get rid of "Likes" that aren't from people interested in giving a thumbs up to pages at the social network

When a Page and fan connect on Facebook, the social network wants to ensure that connection involves a real person interested in hearing from a specific Page and engaging with that brand's content. As such, the company has recently increased its automated efforts to remove Likes on Pages that may have been gained by means that violate the Facebook Terms.

Facebook said that on average, less than 1% of Likes on any given Page will be removed, providing they and their affiliates have been abiding by Facebook's terms. These automated efforts will remove those Likes gained by malware, compromised accounts, deceived users, or purchased bulk Likes.

Facebook clarified that it doesnot and has never permitted the purchase or sale of Facebook Likes as. "Beyond the need to maintain authentic relationships on Facebook, these third-party vendors often attempt to use malware or other forms of deception to generate fraudulent Likes, which is harmful to all users and the internet as a whole," the cpompany said in a blog post.

Facebook has long given members the ability to endorse pages at the social network by clicking on "Like" icons. High numbers of Likes can give "fan count" status to pages, particularly those dedicated to brands.

"A Like that doesn't come from someone truly interested in connecting with a page benefits no one," Facebook said.

"This improvement will allow pages to produce ever more relevant and interesting content, and brands will see an increase in the true engagement around their content."