Social bots: what is it? Easily explained

You can often find so-called social bots in social networks. We'll tell you exactly what that is in this practical tip.

Social bots - what is it? Simple definition

• Social bots are automated programs that are mainly used in social networks such as Facebook or Twitter (more on the technical background).
• The bots have the task of publishing content for the respective page or user at certain set time intervals.
• However, these bots can also perform other functions, such as automatically liking and commenting on posts on Facebook or retweeting and commenting on tweets on Twitter. Bots can be used, especially for larger pages and people, so that the page remains active and content is constantly posted.
• In addition, these social bots can be programmed in such a way that they act as chatbots and thus communicate interactively with users. The technology is now so mature that it is difficult to distinguish between a real chat partner and a bot.
• However, such social bots are not allowed on social networks like Facebook or Twitter according to the terms and conditions. If they are recognized, they are isolated by Facebook or Twitter on a neutral page, where the bots can ultimately "talk" to each other.

How do social bots influence us?

• The struggle for sovereignty of interpretation has long been taking place in social networks via social bots. The idea behind it: The more often certain opinions, assumptions and insults are repeated, the more natural and genuine they appear to us humans.
• This becomes a problem if you want to influence our political opinion. So the bots can create a mood against certain parties and politicians or spread fake news in a targeted manner.
• Bots are also active on many shopping sites, for example to create fake reviews. So a rather bad to mediocre product is bought dozen times only because of the bot reviews bought.

Find out in the next practical tip whether a YouTube bot is legal.