ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel SmarterEveryDay Why are people mean on Twitter? – Smarter Every Day 214
In recent times, there’s been a lot of buzz about bots on social media and their influence on political processes. For instance, a well-known public figure once thanked a social media account, only to later discover it was operated by malicious actors from overseas. Depending on your political stance, you might find this amusing, but it’s a serious issue.
Imagine if a popular account tweeted something nice to you. You’d probably feel grateful and acknowledge their influence. But if you dig deeper, you might uncover a web of deception. It’s not just about fooling the public figure into responding; it’s about the 100,000 followers who believed they were part of a genuine community, only to find out it was a malicious entity.
Social media platforms are grappling with significant challenges. Initially designed for open discussion, these platforms are now targets for manipulation aimed at controlling ideas and sowing division in society. This article is part of a series exploring attacks on social media, with a focus on what Twitter calls platform manipulation.
We’ll examine data and consult experts to understand the tactics used by these malicious actors and how you can protect yourself from their schemes. Let’s head to Twitter Headquarters in San Francisco to meet the team tasked with safeguarding the platform.
Destin: Hi, I’m Destin.
Del: Nice to meet you, Destin. I’m Del, and I’m in charge of Trust and Safety.
Destin: Are we under attack on the Internet? Are there people trying to influence our thoughts?
Del: Absolutely. That’s essentially what advertising does. But beyond advertising, there are behaviors that manipulate information. It’s crucial to distinguish between those raising awareness and those skewing information maliciously.
Another issue you might have heard about is accounts getting censored or suspended. This is partly due to Twitter’s value system, which you can explore on their website. However, there’s an ongoing battle to keep the platform usable and free from manipulation.
If you were to create your own social media platform, you’d face a choice between two extremes: a completely unregulated environment or a highly restrictive one. The challenge is to find a balance that keeps users happy while maintaining enough rules to prevent misuse.
In the past, trending topics on Twitter were simply based on what was being discussed the most. However, this led to situations where certain topics, like Justin Bieber, dominated trends due to fan activity. Twitter had to adjust its approach to focus on the freshness of topics rather than just volume.
While automation is allowed on Twitter, it can lead to issues with bots that try to manipulate the platform. Although Twitter has made significant progress in reducing bot activity, the challenge remains to filter out harmful accounts while allowing beneficial automation.
As we continue to explore these issues, it’s clear that social media manipulation is a complex problem. Experts, such as those at NATO’s Strategic Communications Center, are studying these tactics to understand how they work and how to counteract them.
The manipulation of social media is not just about bots; it involves real people and sophisticated strategies. The goal is often to amplify certain messages and create division. Understanding these tactics is crucial for navigating the social media landscape effectively.
As we delve deeper into this topic, it’s essential to recognize the importance of critical thinking and skepticism when engaging with content online. The battle against misinformation is ongoing, and being informed is one of the best defenses we have.
Thank you for joining me in this exploration of social media manipulation. If you found this content valuable, please consider sharing it. I’m Destin, and I hope you’re getting smarter every day.
Research and identify a suspected bot network on Twitter. Analyze the characteristics that suggest these accounts are bots, such as posting frequency, content similarity, and follower patterns. Present your findings in a report, highlighting how these bots might influence public opinion.
Participate in a class debate on the pros and cons of regulating social media platforms. Consider the balance between free speech and the need to prevent misinformation and manipulation. Prepare arguments for both sides and engage in a structured debate with your peers.
Design a policy for a hypothetical social media platform that addresses issues of manipulation and censorship. Consider how to handle bot activity, misinformation, and user privacy. Present your policy to the class and discuss its potential effectiveness and challenges.
Examine the trending topics on Twitter over a week. Analyze how these topics might be influenced by bot activity or coordinated campaigns. Write a reflection on how the trending algorithm could be improved to ensure genuine user engagement.
Attend a workshop focused on identifying misinformation on social media. Learn about common tactics used to spread false information and practice verifying sources. Share your insights with classmates and discuss strategies for promoting critical thinking online.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, removing any potentially sensitive or inappropriate content while maintaining the overall message:
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You’ve probably heard a lot of talk lately about bots on social media and foreign involvement in our political process. For example, a prominent figure publicly thanked a social media account that was later revealed to be run by malicious actors located somewhere overseas. Depending on your political views, you might be inclined to make light of the situation, but this is much more serious.
If an account with a large following tweeted something nice to me, I would likely respond with gratitude, recognizing their influence. However, when you take a closer look, you start to see the deception at play—not just in tricking the prominent figure into responding, but in the 100,000 people who followed that account, believing it represented a community of like-minded individuals when it was actually a malicious entity.
Social media platforms are facing significant challenges. They were designed for open discussion, but there are ongoing efforts to manipulate these discussions to control ideas and promote division in society. This is part of a series we’re doing on the attacks against social media platforms, focusing today on what Twitter refers to as platform manipulation.
We’re going to look at data and speak with experts to understand the tactics used by these malicious actors and how you can protect yourself from falling victim to their schemes. Let’s head to Twitter Headquarters in San Francisco to meet the team responsible for safeguarding the platform.
I’m Destin.
– I’m Del.
Nice to meet you, Del. You’re in charge of Trust and Safety, correct?
– That’s right.
So, are we under attack on the Internet? Are there people actively trying to influence our thoughts?
– Absolutely. That’s part of what advertising does.
Even beyond advertising, there are many behaviors that can manipulate information. It’s important to differentiate between those trying to raise awareness and those attempting to skew information maliciously.
Another issue you might have heard about is accounts getting censored or suspended. This is partly due to Twitter’s value system, which you can read about on their website. However, there is a constant battle to keep the platform usable and free from manipulation.
If you were to create your own social media platform, you’d face a choice between two extremes: a completely unregulated environment or a highly restrictive one. The challenge is to find a balance that keeps users happy while maintaining enough rules to prevent misuse.
In the past, trending topics on Twitter were simply based on what was being discussed the most. However, this led to situations where certain topics, like Justin Bieber, dominated the trends due to fan activity. Twitter had to adjust its approach to focus on the freshness of topics rather than just volume.
While automation is allowed on Twitter, it can lead to issues with bots that try to manipulate the platform. Although Twitter has made significant progress in reducing bot activity, the challenge remains to filter out harmful accounts while allowing beneficial automation.
As we continue to explore these issues, it’s clear that social media manipulation is a complex problem. Experts like those at NATO’s Strategic Communications Center are studying these tactics to understand how they work and how to counteract them.
The manipulation of social media is not just about bots; it involves real people and sophisticated strategies. The goal is often to amplify certain messages and create division. Understanding these tactics is crucial for navigating the social media landscape effectively.
As we delve deeper into this topic, it’s essential to recognize the importance of critical thinking and skepticism when engaging with content online. The battle against misinformation is ongoing, and being informed is one of the best defenses we have.
Thank you for joining me in this exploration of social media manipulation. If you found this content valuable, please consider sharing it. I’m Destin, and I hope you’re getting smarter every day.
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This version maintains the core ideas and themes while ensuring the language is appropriate and accessible.
Critical Thinking – The objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment. – University students are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills to effectively analyze historical events and their impacts.
Social Media – Platforms that enable users to create and share content or participate in social networking. – The influence of social media on public opinion has become a significant topic in social studies courses.
Manipulation – The action of controlling or influencing a person or situation cleverly or unscrupulously. – Understanding the manipulation of information is crucial for students studying political science.
Misinformation – False or inaccurate information, especially that which is spread intentionally. – The spread of misinformation on social media can have serious implications for democratic processes.
Censorship – The suppression or prohibition of speech or writing that is considered subversive of the common good. – Debates about censorship often arise in discussions about freedom of expression and media regulation.
Division – Disagreement between two or more groups, typically producing tension or hostility. – The division between different political ideologies can be a major focus in social studies research.
Awareness – Knowledge or perception of a situation or fact. – Raising awareness about global issues is a key objective of many social studies programs.
Automation – The use of largely automatic equipment in a system of operation or production. – The impact of automation on employment is a critical topic in economic studies.
Tactics – An action or strategy carefully planned to achieve a specific end. – Analyzing the tactics used in historical conflicts helps students understand the complexities of warfare.
Engagement – Participation or involvement in an activity or event. – Student engagement in community projects is often encouraged in social studies curricula to foster civic responsibility.
