A simple thread on the amplification of disinformation on Twitter, using fake accounts & automation. Also known as astroturfing. Read on, if you want to bolster your digital media literacy.
1.
Meet @/shocker_daily, a low rent 'alternative news' provider.
1.
Meet @/shocker_daily, a low rent 'alternative news' provider.
2. You'll notice I use the / to prevent amplifying @/shocker_daily myself. Like naughty children, bad actors like this thrive on any attention, negative or otherwise. All attention helps them come to prominence in Twitter's promotion algorithm.
Don't help them, right?
Don't help them, right?
3. These actors will typically insert themselves into the mentions of prominent figures & 'influencers' - frequently journalists.
They want to give the impression of a 'grassroots' response on their chosen talking point. To fool the journalist & his/her followers.
They want to give the impression of a 'grassroots' response on their chosen talking point. To fool the journalist & his/her followers.
4. So, when @tnewtondunn tweeted this, it was game on for @/shocker_daily to infect Tom's replies with its chosen counter-narrative.
5. But @/shocker_daily is a low reach account, so it also runs a number of fake Twitter accounts to automatically amplify what it says.
In this case we can see that it possibly uses a service called IFTTT (hat tip @conspirator0 for this insight).
In this case we can see that it possibly uses a service called IFTTT (hat tip @conspirator0 for this insight).
6. The giveaway is the insertion by IFTTT of 'RT @/shocker_daily' at the front of the tweet.
And so the faked response to Tom, in apparent agreement with @/shocker_daily begins.
His mentions begin filling up with the desired talking point.
And so the faked response to Tom, in apparent agreement with @/shocker_daily begins.
His mentions begin filling up with the desired talking point.
7. This goes on and on, with more 'bots' (nothing particularly sinister - just fake accounts, controlled by a bit of code) joining in & even amplifying each other.
8. If you do a search for @/shocker_daily you'll find it does this all the time.
It's easy to set this up & can have legit purposes, as this marketing person explains.
It's easy to set this up & can have legit purposes, as this marketing person explains.
9. Legit or not, I personally hate this approach, but the point is it's not always done for nefarious purposes. In the case above, Sam just wants to save himself a bit of time.
But @/shocker_daily wants to pollute the information space. That is NOT legitimate.
But @/shocker_daily wants to pollute the information space. That is NOT legitimate.
10. So, what to do about this?
It's mainly a case of what NOT to do.
Don't get drawn in to amplifying these astroturfing operations. Don't share them (except via screen shots), don't 'debate' with them (ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A PROMINENT JOURNALIST) & don't fall for their shtick
It's mainly a case of what NOT to do.
Don't get drawn in to amplifying these astroturfing operations. Don't share them (except via screen shots), don't 'debate' with them (ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A PROMINENT JOURNALIST) & don't fall for their shtick
11. If you're interested in understanding more about astroturfing, sock puppetry etc & how to inoculate yourself against its worst effects, follow some of my favourite insight sources like @conspirator0 @mentionmapp @3r1nG @RVAwonk & subscribe to my '#disinformation list.
12. If you enjoy stories of takedowns on dodgy accounts, you'll find more in my Twitter Moments.
Postscript: @shocker_daily page now deleted. Here's more on how rubbish it was, in a thread by @conspirator0
https://twitter.com/conspirator0/status/1037847125562863616?s=19
RIP. But the website is still there. Writing nonsense about 'the Skirpals'
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