“No one wished me a happy birthday”. How artificial ontelligence and Facebook’s mechanisms exploit user empathy

The text addresses the issue of using artificial intelligence and Facebook mechanisms to emotionally manipulate users. A case study of the post “Nobody wished me happy birthday” illustrates how fake profiles and AI-generated photos exploit people’s natural empathy. Psychological manipulation techniques such as appeal to pity, social proof, and clickbait are discussed, along with the role of recommendation algorithms in amplifying the reach of such content. Particular attention is given to phishing and smishing, highlighting their effectiveness in acquiring sensitive data and extracting money. The conclusion presents protective measures, including user education, reporting incidents to CERT Polska, applying two-factor authentication, and raising social awareness in the field of cybersecurity.