There's no way to really prove it without heavily examining the server in person. But I don't see any reason to doubt it.
Only that you can track the timer reaching record low values and then the rapid appearance of people with that flair. Multiple people can get the flair from one reset if they're all close enough together so the first yellow button press had about 30 people. It is possible that they're adding false clicks while still allowing it to reach lower values over time, but I guess, why, when watching people do this themselves is so interesting?
Let's give reputable companies the benefit of the doubt.
Yes, but it's a reputable company playing an April Fools' joke.
There is no reputation on the line here. Nobody would suddenly refuse to use reddit if they automatically clicked.
^not getting it. some engineers love to think ux/design don't matter. on the aggregate it matters more than anything else.