Social Bots and Misinformation Diffusion

Social bots, accounting for up to 15% of Twitter users, play a significant role in the dissemination of misinformation. They have been used to skew political discourse, as seen in the 2016 US election, and to amplify pandemic-related misinformation, affecting public health perceptions. These bots often mimic human activity, targeting influential accounts to increase the spread and visibility of false information. Their ability to coordinate and share problematic content can manipulate discussions and bias algorithmic systems, creating an illusion of widespread support for certain narratives. This issue extends to coordinated networks involving trolls and human users, further complicating the challenge of combating misinformation.

Highlights

• New social bot detection methods

• Role of social bots in misinformation diffusion