I found this post at the Daily Caller both amusing and a little sad:
A small group of pro-President Barack Obama commenters dominated conversation on the White House Facebook page during the last five years, according to a data analytic firm’s examination of 3.6 million posts by more than 515,000 unique profiles.
The firm’s analysis and a Daily Caller News Foundation investigation suggest digital astroturfing may have been behind many of the most frequent commenters. “Astroturfing†refers to efforts aimed at creating the appearance of more public support than actually exists for an individual, institution, program or proposal.
Twenty-four percent of the 3.6 million comments on the page since 2010 were posted by only 250 profiles.
Just four profiles account for nearly 60,000 comments over a five year period. Either there are some very lonely people out there with a lot of time on their hands or, as I think is somewhat more likely, they were the work of professional social media image management consultants.
The digital equivalent of the amen corner dangerous because its very mistaken for sincere agreement. How long before entire campaigns are nothing but bots?
I’m sure you are correct. But it makes me also think of OTB, with its all day long stroking of the Administration and self congratulatory calling Republicans stupid, racist, homophobic, nuts……..
How long before entire campaigns are nothing but bots?
2008. Somehow you missed it. One bot was a crazed animatronic escaped from Hanoi Disneyland. The other was a hectoring android wife of one Harcourt Fenton Mudd. The hectoring wife android won.
Yeah, it does sound like OTB. I think about 5 people post 90% of the comments there.