Divisive, demoralizing bots are winning, so big tech needs to think bigger

Facebook and Twitter need to crack down on fake accounts, argues Professor of Information Systems Victor Benjamin. It’s getting harder to tell the difference between what’s real and what’s fake, he says, and online conversations are being drowned out by misinformation.

Facebook and Twitter need to crack down on fake accounts, argues Professor of Information Systems Victor Benjamin. It’s getting harder to tell the difference between what’s real and what’s fake, he says, and online conversations are being drowned out by misinformation.

In this story published March 21, 2021, in The Boston Globe:

Reestablishing space for productive public discussions around politics, climate change, public health, and racial justice requires tougher tactics against the internet’s bot infestation. If social media companies take responsibility for their platforms and stop letting bots drown out and derail the conversations of real people, then can we get back to the founding principle of the internet: the authentic and free exchange of ideas.

– Victor Benjamin, assistant professor of information systems