Bots are software programs to mimic human behavior. They’re useful tools for webmasters, marketers, and even social media managers. Most bots are fairly benign, but some of these automated messages can get out of hand. Are they dangerous?
You may have seen a Twitter account with a million followers and wondered what the deal was. The chances are good that these are bots to act like real people.
Some of these programs can be for good, but others can be dangerous. For example, the Russian government uses bots to spread propaganda and fake news. These accounts have been used in an attempt to influence the outcome of elections around the world.
Since these accounts are technically anonymous, they can create unrest and division in a community. While bots have been known to influence elections, they’re also used to drive traffic to websites by posting links or content.
How Bots Work
Bots use algorithms designed to mimic human behavior. They’re often automated and can post hundreds of messages in a row without any discernible breaks in between messages—a process called auto-posting. They look like real people, but they’re not. Bots aren’t capable of true human thought and don’t have any free will, so they don’t think for themselves. At least not yet…
Most bots are harmless and perform simple tasks like following other accounts or retweeting messages posted by others. However, the more powerful bots are capable of doing more harmful things like creating fake accounts or buying followers for someone else.
Some bot creators even sell these automated tools on the black market for thousands of dollars! Since there is no way to distinguish a bot from a real person, it can be difficult to determine whether or not you’re engaging with one online.
How Bots Affect Your Business
Bots could be hurting your business without you knowing it. They can be used to buy fake followers on Twitter or Facebook and make your business look more popular than it really is.
In addition, some bots will buy likes on Instagram posts or boost engagement rates on Facebook posts as well. All told, this could cost your business thousands of dollars over time if you aren’t careful!
Bots can also send out negative reviews and hurt your search engine ranking if they post negative content about your business online without you seeing it first. In addition, spambots will send out emails as well, which could hurt your email campaign as well as your search engine ranking!
How to Fight Bots: Are Bots Dangerous?
When bots are used for evil, it’s up to you to fight back. Here are some tips for fighting back against these automated accounts online.
◼ Keep track of your activity. You may not realize when a bot is using your account, so keep track of the things you do online. Take note of the time that you posted something or a link you shared and see if you notice any patterns.
◼ Use Search Engine Optimization tools. Bots only visit websites that have been optimized for search engines, so make sure your business website is optimized for search engines like Google. This will help you identify bots on your website and prevent them from posting fake content about your business!
◼ Monitor social media activity. You should also be monitoring social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to ensure that there isn’t any bot activity. Monitor posts, likes, and comments to see if users are leaving positive or negative comments—these could be real people or bots!
Monitor comments as well as likes to see if they’re coming from a certain location or user type. If they’re all coming from the same user type or location, it might be a bot trying to hurt your brand!
◼ Trust your instincts. In addition to monitoring this activity online, trust your gut instincts as well. If something seems off about a social media post or email campaign, it probably is!
◼ Don’t give out personal information on social media. It might be tempting to share your favorite restaurants on Facebook or send out personal information on Twitter, but don’t do it! These bots can use this info against you by targeting your favorite restaurants with negative reviews or spam emails!