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First Evidence that Social Bots Play a Major Role in Spreading Fake News

posted by cmn32480 on Thursday August 10 2017, @01:57AM   Printer-friendly
from the automating-the-lies dept.

Fnord666 writes:

Fake news and the way it spreads on social media is emerging as one of the great threats to modern society. In recent times, fake news has been used to manipulate stock markets, make people choose dangerous health-care options, and manipulate elections, including last year's presidential election in the U.S.

Clearly, there is an urgent need for a way to limit the diffusion of fake news. And that raises an important question: how does fake news spread in the first place?

Today we get an answer of sorts thanks to the work of Chengcheng Shao and pals at Indiana University in Bloomington. For the first time, these guys have systematically studied how fake news spreads on Twitter and provide a unique window into this murky world. Their work suggests clear strategies for controlling this epidemic.

Source:
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/608561/first-evidence-that-social-bots-play-a-major-role-in-spreading-fake-news/

Journal Reference:
arxiv.org/abs/1707.07592: The Spread of Fake News by Social Bots

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday August 11 2017, @01:14AM (1 child)

    by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Friday August 11 2017, @01:14AM (#552000) Homepage Journal

    I never said my mother, you sicko.

    Yes, I have a blind, unreasoning allegiance to liberty. I'm an irrational bastard like that.

    As an admin you should be more objective...

    Get this clear in your head: we're every last one of us volunteer staff. We keep this beastie running because we enjoy using it. You're here saying "keep it running for me but don't use it"? What's this on the bottom of my back. Oh, why it's my ass! Feel free to kiss it.

    Defend against shitty downmods by your fellow nutters if you truly believe yourself objective.

    Why do you think everyone gets mod points? It's not so you'll feel all special; it's so anyone who feels the need can correct a bad downmod. We the community, every one of us, are responsible for bad moderations. It's not a perfect solution but it's a hell of a lot better than any one person or group doing so according to their feelz and ideology.

    See, you're giving me shit and entirely wrong in everything you've said except the motherfucker bit and I haven't once downmodded you, much less banned you. Care to rethink your position?

    --
    My rights don't end where your fear begins.
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  
    Total Score:   2  

  • (Score: 2) by aristarchus on Friday August 11 2017, @05:54AM

    by aristarchus (2645) on Friday August 11 2017, @05:54AM (#552148) Journal

    I never said my mother, you sicko

    Unfortunately, this is one of the perverse tendencies of Buzzards: they fuck their own mothers. Do you need a citation?

    Any object, visual, sensual or stimulating of any other sense that holds the characteristics appertaining of Buzzardace.
    A disgusting object or situation.
    Buzzard Things-
    Incest.

    http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Buzzard&page=2 [urbandictionary.com] Right there on Urban Dictionary, you prevert.