Number of monthly active Lemmy users rising again - eviltoast
  • PlantJam@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    11
    ·
    5 months ago

    What’s the point of those types of bots, though? I guess they’re just trying to have vaguely genuine looking accounts to use for some future purpose, maybe political or advertising related.

    • uhN0id@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      18
      ·
      5 months ago

      My best guess is karma farming so they can sell them off. Probably create hundreds of accounts they can sell off. If some brand buys an account that looks reputable for $20-$100 to use it for astroturfing then that’s a pretty good deal for both sides. Shitty deal for everyone else.

      • SeattleRain@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        5 months ago

        That and building convincing personas for propaganda and PR. An account agreeing with pro corporate policies is more convincing if it has a long post history.