this post was submitted on 25 Jun 2023
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[–] Discoslugs@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago (4 children)

Are any of these accounts bots?

Or maybe how many of these accounts are bots?

Are they all bots?

[–] Zamboniman@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Are any of these accounts bots?

About 2.45 million of the 2.5 are, yes.

[–] Discoslugs@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

As i suspected.

[–] Martineski@lemmy.fmhy.ml 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

Around 95% accounts are bots. Around 90% if we are positive and assume that a lot of redditors joined since the bot farming started.

[–] ramblechat@lemmy.world 0 points 2 years ago (2 children)

So what are the Bots doing? Who created them and why? I don't understand the purpose of bots.

[–] Martineski@lemmy.fmhy.ml 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Currently nothing but once activated they may start spamming stuff everywhere. Owners can decide what gets upvotes and what gets downvotes which gives you a lot of power on a platform where downvotes/upvotes mean everything.

[–] ramblechat@lemmy.world -1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Still don't get it - someone makes a comment, bots upvote it so it gets seen by more people. Not really going to change the world.

[–] Dr_Cog@lemmy.ml 9 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Sure, but do you like ads that masquerade as posts? Because if you do then you'll love the delicious taste of Diet Coke, grab one today! (16900 upvotes)

[–] MargotRobbie@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Oh boy, I, for one, love the taste of Diet Coke, the perfect refreshing drink when you and your family watch my new movie, "Barbie", only in theaters July 21st.

[–] x4740N@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

Companies advertising on here through AMA's should also be prevented because it's just advertising

[–] gun@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

They don't want to change the world. They want to let you know about hot singles in your area

[–] paciencia@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

IM IN YOUR AREA IM IN YOUR AREA I KNOW THE FIRST THREE NUMBERS, IM IN I KNOW THE FIRST THREE NUMBERS, IM IN TEACHIN BITCHES HOW TO SWIM TEACHIN BITCHES HOW TO SWIM

[–] Zamboniman@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 years ago

So what are the Bots doing?

Many of them are doing nothing so far.

No doubt they are available for sale to some company or individual that wants to buy them wholesale and start spamming or astroturfing.

Who created them and why?

People wanting to sell them for $$ mostly. In some cases, people biding their time to use them for mass spam, social misdirection, opinion forming, etc.

I don’t understand the purpose of bots.

In social media, a common and concerning use of them is to use them wholesale (comments, posts, and votes) to try and sway mass opinion on some issue to something the person responsible for the bots wants.

[–] Discoslugs@lemmy.world 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Thats seems bad. I know some bots are hepful. But 1 million bots seems like they for something nefariously.

[–] HappycamperNZ@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Like trying to keep people on reddit?

[–] Discoslugs@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

Or just too generally troll the fediverse.

[–] linearchaos@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I'd go to Facebook first

[–] Atreju@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I'm no bot and joined 6 days ago :)

[–] Discoslugs@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

Welcome friend.

[–] x4740N@lemmy.world 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yes unfortunately but lemmy is still growing

I'm going to link my comment because I don't want to rewrite ot for everyone I reply to where it is relevant

https://lemmy.world/comment/548294

[–] Discoslugs@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

Thanks for the reply!

And I totally agree.