Let’s talk about bots, cyborgs, and other fake accounts

What are bots?

Internet bots are accounts run by computer programs instead of actual people. They may post hundreds of times per day, often about a specific topic or website.

Bots can be used to spread misinformation, drive traffic to websites, or boost an influencer's following. One Study showed that 1 in 5 election-related tweets sent in September and October 2016 were created by bots.

What are cyborgs?

Cyborgs combine computer programming with actual human control and interaction. This makes cyborgs more difficult to detect than regular bots.

What about sock puppets?

A sock puppet is an account created by a person to hide their true identity. Such accounts are often used to troll, respond to critics, or give praise.

How can I detect a bot or fake account?

Do a reverse image search on the profile picture to check for authenticity.

On a computer browser: Right click the image, copy the image address (URL), go to Google images, search by image (camera icon in search bar), paste image URL.

On a phone: Open the Chrome app, tap and hold the image, select "search Google for this image."

How can I detect a bot or fake account?

• Check the account creation date. An older account is more likely to be real (but not a guarantee).

• Ask yourself if the content posted matches the person or organization.

• See if the account has an abnormal number of friends, followers, or subscribers.

• Look for the user on other platforms to see if their accounts are consistent.

Bots and fake accounts can sow confusion, contention, and misinformation. Pause before sharing to make sure you aren't spreading content from a fake account. Report accounts you suspect to be fake.

Be a conscious consumer. Watch out for bots and fake accounts.

Sources:

Voice of America: “Cyborgs, trolls, and bots: A guide to online misinformation,” www.voanews.com 

Deutsche Welle: “Fact check: How do I spot fake social media accounts, bots, and trolls?” www.dw.com