Comments on: Internet Opinion Shaping Tricks

Question: Internet Opinion Shaping Tricks

srboisvert — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 03:18:07 -0800

Sockpuppets and gaming Digg. What other tricks are being used to deceptively manipulate opinion online?

By: Nelson

Nelson — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 03:28:32 -0800

By: lodev

lodev — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 03:29:46 -0800

During the Israel-Hezbollah war I read an article about "The Internet Megaphone", a piece of software that automatically notifies "Israel supporters" of online polls. (Think of it as a very specialized RSS reader). I think this can count.

See also: ^

By: rongorongo

rongorongo — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 03:45:39 -0800

Good old sponsorship - for example funding of particular forums. The opinions expressed may not always be those that the sponsor would like but the playing field may be tilted in his favour.

By: Mr. Gunn

Mr. Gunn — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 05:07:45 -0800

Corporate-paid flogs, like the "Wal-mart Across America" nonsense are a big push now.

It should be noted, however, that anyone whose opinion is swayed by digg deserves whatever they get.

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 05:58:24 -0800

I was just searching around a bit more and found a few on my own:

Category Deception:
ie a liberal posting "I'm a conservative but ..."

Impersonation:

pretending to be somebody else to either hurt them or help yourself.

Identity Concealment:

Vested party conceals self-interest

also being reborn as a new user to wipe a reputation clean (similar to a sockpuppet)

By: smackfu

smackfu — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 06:43:57 -0800

Sending free stuff "for review" to bloggers who are not journalists.

By: rongorongo

rongorongo — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 07:37:06 -0800

Sending free stuff "for review" to bloggers who are not journalists.

But probably not to Joel Spolsky if you are Sprint.

By: jikel_morten

jikel_morten — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 07:42:52 -0800

PayPerPost pays bloggers to write about products and websites and whatnot. Not sure how prevalent or transparent it is to readers.

By: zabuni

zabuni — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:11:01 -0800

There was a recent about some bloggers who were blogging for Wal-mart, but not disclosing it.