The programs of “bots” (robots) that operate artificial accounts on Twitter put the suspense on Elon Musk’s offer for the platform due to the billionaire’s questions about these controversial lines of code.
This type of software is so common and can be such a big problem that tech giants like Meta, Google and Twitter have teams dedicated to removing “bots” and cybersecurity firms to combat them.
Here’s a closer look at what a “bot” is:
Human or software?
At a basic level, “bots” are programs that interact with online platforms, or their users, by pretending to be a real user, explains Tamer Hassan, co-founder and head of cybersecurity company HUMAN.
Malicious bots have become highly sophisticated and are among the biggest cyber threats of the decade. says Hassan, whose firm specializes in distinguishing real people from online software.
The term “bots” on Twitter is often used to describe fake accounts powered by some artificial intelligence that it can launch posts and even react to what is posted by other accounts, says independent analyst Rob Enderle.
Concert tickets, social chaos
Bots are used in more than three quarters of the online Fraud Incidents, and they can spread socially polarized posts to monopolize concert tickets and serve as hacking tools, Hassan explained to AFP.
“The question is, what would you do if you could look like a thousand humans?” explains the expert.
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“Across all social platforms, ‘bots’ can be used to spread content in order to influence people’s opinion, direct reactions and can even lead to cybercrimes.”
Bots can be used online to spread fake news, misinform real users, lead people to deceptive websites, and make deceptive posts look popular using “share” or “like” features. They can even lead users to financial scams, Hassan added.
“Social networks have had ‘bots’ for a long time,” said analyst Enderle. “The ‘bots’ have been connected with attempts to influence US elections or even shape opinions about the war between Russia and Ukraine.”
The deal with Twitter
Twitter makes money from advertising, and marketers pay to reach real people, not artificial accounts.
“Advertising to bot accounts is not going to have a good close rate because bots don’t buy products,” Enderle said.
If advertisers pay on Twitter a value based on how many people see the ad, and these numbers are inflated because the “bots” simulate online audience, then there is a premium, Enderle added.
If Twitter has a lot more “bots” than it seems, your revenue may take a nosedive when these accounts are exposed and shut down.
How do bots work on Twitter?
Parag Agrawal, chief executive of Twitter, said that less than 5% of active accounts at any given time are “bots”, but such an analysis cannot be replicated independently as it compromises the need to maintain user privacy.
Musk published that the real number of “bots” may be four times higher and said that if he becomes the owner of the platform one of his priorities would be to get rid of them.
Twitter has rules on automated account actions, including a ban on posting about controversial topics, firing spam trying to influence online conversations and operating through multiple accounts.
The “bots” are known as a problem in social networks to the point that they have made Musk makes them a problem in the acquisition process that seems to be “a vehicle to escape the purchase or to get a better price”Enderle concluded. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
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