The Problem and Influence of Twitter Bots

A recent New York Times investigation revealed that thousands of Twitter users purchased followers and retweets to expand upon their influence on the site. As public outcry followed, Newhouse social media professor Jennifer Grygiel discussed this in a CNET article, using a simple but unique metaphor to explain the situation.

“It’s kind of like inflating your resume. They were buying status so they can have influence,” she said. “That’s not OK.”