Devil’s advocate here. Does not pretty much any post on the subject of politics that is not simply reporting constitute an attempt to manipulate public opinion? Are they specifically referencing nation states trying to influence public opinion?
You see an ad, you recognize it as an ad. Your opinion is probably unchanged.
You see a user saying “Hey this product is actually pretty good,” it’s more likely to sway your feelings on the product, or at least your perception of the general sentiment to the product.
Me telling you my opinion on something is just that. I am just some guy. I don’t have access, or even want access, to a billion bots spamming my opinion.
Also my opinion even if applied really doesn’t mean much practically. Generally speaking I am pro infrastructure so if somehow the government spent more money on infrastructure that only translates, at best, to a small raise on my part. Not the same as say a major corp.
You see a community board where people can put up ads. What you expect to see are piano lessons, apartment for rent, tutoring etc. little things that really only matter to one person. You don’t expect some megacorp to rip every sign down and turn it into a billboard that blasts from speakers each time someone walks past.
Basically it’s a question of degree not of kind. It might be that it is all the same kind but the degree is so vastly different.
Devil’s advocate here. Does not pretty much any post on the subject of politics that is not simply reporting constitute an attempt to manipulate public opinion? Are they specifically referencing nation states trying to influence public opinion?
Astroturfing. Ads disguised as user content.
You see an ad, you recognize it as an ad. Your opinion is probably unchanged.
You see a user saying “Hey this product is actually pretty good,” it’s more likely to sway your feelings on the product, or at least your perception of the general sentiment to the product.
I’m mostly just wondering how they’re distinguishing between astroturfing and legit posts.
Yeah sure but it’s the scale and sincerity.
Me telling you my opinion on something is just that. I am just some guy. I don’t have access, or even want access, to a billion bots spamming my opinion.
Also my opinion even if applied really doesn’t mean much practically. Generally speaking I am pro infrastructure so if somehow the government spent more money on infrastructure that only translates, at best, to a small raise on my part. Not the same as say a major corp.
You see a community board where people can put up ads. What you expect to see are piano lessons, apartment for rent, tutoring etc. little things that really only matter to one person. You don’t expect some megacorp to rip every sign down and turn it into a billboard that blasts from speakers each time someone walks past.
Basically it’s a question of degree not of kind. It might be that it is all the same kind but the degree is so vastly different.