What are social bots? Simply explained

Social bots are a complex topic. They offer opportunities, but also harbor risks for digital society

What social bots are and how they are used

In the digital age, social media platforms play a central role in our everyday lives. This is where people exchange ideas, share experiences and discuss various topics. However, there are not only people among the users, but also automated programs – so-called “social bots”.

• Social bots are computer programs that have been developed to carry out automated actions on social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other platforms. These bots can act autonomously, write posts, share content, respond to comments and even influence trends.

• These programs act using predefined algorithms and instructions. They analyze content, search for specific keywords or topics and respond by automatically creating posts or replying to existing posts. Social bots can be very versatile: from simple actions such as the automated sharing of content to complex activities such as imitating human behavior.

• Social bots are used in various areas, not only for marketing purposes, but also for political agendas, influencing opinions, customer interaction or even spreading fake news. Their ability to generate and disseminate large volumes of posts has the potential to influence discussions and set trends.

The challenges and effects of social bots

Although social bots can serve as useful tools, they also pose challenges.

• Manipulation of information: Social bots can be used to spread targeted misinformation, manipulate discussions or influence public opinion.

• Effects on society: The effects of social bots on society are complex. They can distort political debates, undermine the credibility of news sources and steer public opinion in a desired direction. They can also help to increase the visibility of certain topics or polarize discussions.

• Measures against social bots: Various measures are required to curb the negative effects of social bots. This includes the development of more advanced technologies to detect bots, the strengthening of media literacy to recognize misinformation and the implementation of stricter guidelines and regulations on the part of social networks.