[tyjen]

While overall automated traffic is a problem, I'm a bit more concerned about bots in comment sections or social media in particular. Unfortunately, bad actors are deploying them to shift public opinion in ways I don't think we fully comprehend and are deeply underestimating the negative effects. Political parties, foreign interference, public relations firms, etc... It's unsettling to think about.

I've often seen freshly posted articles covering a controversial geopolitical topic and within less than 2-3 minutes the comment section is inundated with similarly aligned comments all liked or upvoted to immediately place them at the top of section. But, it gets better, opposing opinion comments are poorly constructed disliked or down voted. Of course, there's the chance that I'm completely wrong, but I cannot shake the feeling that it is not organic human interaction taking place.