Bots & Astroturfing ��

The Rise of Fake Influencers�

@LutzFinger � MiningData.biz �

An Army of Bots�

$ 2.76 million

Bots 1.0 – Spammer going Social �@you malware.com @you-as-well malware.com D fresh-contact malware.com

They are not efficient:

Bots 1.0 – Spammer going Social �@you malware.com @you-as-well malware.com D fresh-contact malware.com

And they are easy to spot: •  Time: Regular or Bursty •  Heavy Hashtag Usage •  Spam Words •  Few Friends

Thus Social Networks acted…. �

2013

7% SPAM

2012 2011

20% detection

but still Dangerous�

SMEAR Campaigns

Denial of INFORMATION

Silent Influencer @Al_AGW

Social Friend @JamesMTitus

Knowledge Lajello

Bot 2.0 – Social Bots�

Can Bots create a Mass movement?�•  Reach •  Ease of Action •  Intention

Can Bots create a Mass movement?�•  Reach •  Ease of Action •  Intention

Astroturf�

Can Bots create a Mass movement?�•  Reach •  Ease of Action •  Intention

Astroturf�

Can Bots create a Mass movement?�•  Reach •  Ease of Action •  Intention

Astroturf�

•  Opinion leaders (Katz 1955) •  Influentials (Merton 1968) •  Mavens & connectors (Gladwell 2000)

Can Bots create a Mass movement?�•  Reach •  Ease of Action •  Intention

Astroturf�

•  Opinion leaders (Katz 1955) •  Influentials (Merton 1968) •  Mavens & connectors (Gladwell 2000)

To create Intention Is not easy

BUT why…. �Aja Dior M. omgg, my aunt tiffany who work for whitney houston just found whitney houston dead in the tub. such ashamed & sad :(

45 min

6 month

Source:  TED  talk  by  Kevin  Allocca    

OR why…. �Views Per Day for Double Rainbow

15  

Broadcasting ≠ Intention�

Awareness ≠ Influence�

Influence depends on�

Topic Dependence Readiness Multiple Sources

•  Reach •  Ease of Action •  Intention

Topic Dependence�

Source:  Kevin  Lewisa,  Marco  Gonzaleza  and  Jason  Kaufman  (2012):  PNAS  Vol  109,  no  1  

 •  4  years  •  1001  Students  on  Facebook  •  tradi6onal  Self-­‐reported  Data  •  How  did  taste  Spread  

There is a strong topic dependence.

Influence is often homophily in reality.

Readiness �Arjun  M

ukherjee  et.al.    

Multiple Sources�

0   20.000   40.000   60.000   80.000   100.000   120.000  

N  Korean  leader  Kim  Jong-­‐il  dies  

An6maKer  atom  trapped  for  first  6me,  say  scien6sts    

Neutrinos  beat  light  speed  again  

Earth-­‐like  planet  found  in  the  "habitable  zone"  

No  rhinos  remain  in  West  Africa  

Eurozone  debt  web:  Who  owes  what  to  whom?  

Writer  Christopher  Hitchens  dies  

BBC  apology  for  Clarkson  comments  

'Witch's  coKage'  found  in  Pendle  

In  pictures:  Apocalyp6c  Manchester  

Social  Media  Index  

Clicking  Sharing  Commen6ng  

50%

on  the  courtesy  of      

55%

Truth about the Truth�

Outlook �

• Arm’s length Race • Avoid Training Spammer

• Verification of Information

Thanks�

MiningData.Biz

LutzFinger.com�