unit 2.3

Amplification: Spot a Bot

You can use the following questions to check for Twitter Bots, or alternatively use the Botometer in the tools section.

  • Is there a profile picture? Does it seem legitimate?
  • Is there a long number in the @name?
  • Is the biography believable? Is it too generic? Is it suspicious?
  • Is the bio click-baitish?
  • Does the account have many followers?
  • Are most of the posts retweets?
  • Do the posts suddenly shift subjects from the popular (sports, Eurovision, etc.) to the political?
  • Do the account’s followers look like bots?
  • Does the account appear to follow a number of bots?
  • How many of your country’s politicians’ followers look like bots?
  • How many of your followers look like bots?

bots