system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why is it important for websites to verify that you're not a robot?
gpt
Spam bots are a common method of malicious online robot. They spam message boards or other internet sites with repeated advertisements (at best, more malicious things at worst). they also participate in phishing scams (where they try to steal your password/information).  


Those verification steps help cut down on those bad actors.