Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Me.

(35,454 posts)
Tue May 30, 2017, 06:32 PM May 2017

Almost half of Trumps Twitter followers appear to be fake

AS if we didn't already guess.

“Anyone can amass an exorbitant number of Twitter followers. You don't even have to be famous. All you have to do is pay for them. The comedian Joe Mande currently has a healthy 1.01 million followers, but his bio contains a caveat: "twitter is trash, facebook's the devil, i bought a million followers for like $400 none of this shit matters antarctica is melting."

Mande even explained the stunt last November in The New Yorker. "The simplest way to tell who’s winning the Twitter game is by counting followers," he wrote. "The biggest celebrity accounts—Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga—seem to have millions of followers. But in 2012 I learned that only a portion of those are real humans; some are 'bots,' artificially created to boost an account’s popularity. Immediately, I knew that I had found my calling."

Because Donald Trump is the president of the United States and the most famous person on the planet, one wouldn't think he would need to employ a bot to boost his Twitter following. It appears, however, he might have done just that. As screenwriter John Niven pointed out Tuesday morning, Trump's Twitter account saw an unusal spike in followers over the weekend, many of which appear to have been created artificially.”...cont...

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/05/almost-half-of-trumps-twitter-followers-appear-fake/


11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Almost half of Trumps Twitter followers appear to be fake (Original Post) Me. May 2017 OP
Honest question - why does this matter? Bleacher Creature May 2017 #1
There May Be More To It, I Honestly Don't Know Me. May 2017 #2
It doesn't. cwydro May 2017 #10
It is good to know, in case they start acting in a concerted manner. Madam45for2923 May 2017 #11
Does Twitter care malaise May 2017 #3
Well It Makes Their Overall Numbers Bigger Me. May 2017 #4
Apparently He JUst Gained 59 Followers In Minutes Me. May 2017 #5
but, why is he doing that? lovemydogs May 2017 #6
Yes, Yes, Yes Yes Me. May 2017 #8
"Bot and paid for" oasis May 2017 #7
+1 Me. May 2017 #9

Bleacher Creature

(11,256 posts)
1. Honest question - why does this matter?
Tue May 30, 2017, 06:55 PM
May 2017

I've been seeing stories like this all day, and as someone who's not on Twitter (and only barely on Facebook), I just don't get it. And I'm talking more about the people citing these bots as evidence that "something is happening in Trumpland."

I just see it as evidence that Trump's ego can't stand the possibility that the number his followers is dwindling? Is there more to it? That fact alone is good enough for me, but it seems like people are reading more into it.

I'm not asking sarcastically - I really don't get it.

Me.

(35,454 posts)
2. There May Be More To It, I Honestly Don't Know
Tue May 30, 2017, 07:13 PM
May 2017

However, I think his numbers falling to the extent that he has to pay to boost them is telling. Cause his numbers are falling everywhere, even with his base. Also, I think he uses numbers to prove he has a mandate that doesn't exist. I love that Obama has so many more than him in a nah nah nah nah nah way. Childish but he is childish.

 

cwydro

(51,308 posts)
10. It doesn't.
Tue May 30, 2017, 11:12 PM
May 2017

DU has become obsessed with twitter. This is the umpteenth thread on it in two days.

They pop up as fast as I trash them.

Me.

(35,454 posts)
4. Well It Makes Their Overall Numbers Bigger
Tue May 30, 2017, 09:28 PM
May 2017

Which is good for them. As to their caring, I'd bet they at least know.

lovemydogs

(575 posts)
6. but, why is he doing that?
Tue May 30, 2017, 10:35 PM
May 2017

Why is he filling his acct with bots? So he can brag about how many followers he has? Retreat to his fantasy world and pretend many people are breathlessly awaiting his sage tweets?
Because Obama has more followers then he does? He seems to always be so pre-occupied with Obama.
Just like his executive orders. Many think its to hurt people but, I think its just to wipe out whatever Obama did.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Almost half of Trumps Twi...