Thousands of fake Facebook accounts shut down by Meta were primed to polarize voters ahead of 2024

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Someone in China created thousands of fake social media accounts designed to appear to be from Americans and used them to spread polarizing political content in an apparent effort to divide the U.S. ahead of next year’s elections, Meta said Thursday.

The network of nearly 4,800 fake accounts was attempting to build an audience when it was identified and eliminated by the tech company, which owns Facebook and Instagram. The accounts sported fake photos, names and locations as a way to appear like everyday American Facebook users weighing in on political issues.

Instead of spreading fake content as other networks have done, the accounts were used to reshare posts from X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that were created by politicians, news outlets and others. The interconnected accounts pulled content from both liberal and conservative sources, an indication that its goal was not to support one side or the other but to exaggerate partisan divisions and further inflame polarization.

Be careful, folks. I imagine this is not exclusive to Facebook, these operations to infiltrate and destabilize our democracy are a part of a very precise and detailed operation.

I'll share a little tip. Here is one of the ways I use to determine who may or may not be who they claim they are. It takes time and observation, and sometimes well placed questions.

On this website, for example, try not to pay attention to what the avatar says. Anything can be put on there, it does not mean it's accurate information where someone is from. More often than not, it's meant to only divert. What you have to pay attention to are the actions. Not the words, but the intent behind the words.

We all know and understand that there are people in our own nations who are unhappy with the way things are. And often they have a very good reason to be that way, things aren't perfect and many are unhappy. And they have to vent somewhere, they have to say they are unhappy and find those of shared sentiment. This is normal, we all do it from time to time. But some people spend countless hours talking shizznit about our countries, eight to ten hours a day sometimes. Every day. And there is nothing positive about our countries, not the government, not the laws, not the history, not the global politics and not even the people. And even this is ok, some people really are this unhappy.

But where you really have to pay attention is not just who they talk # about, but what they stand up for at the same time. If you post a negative thread about Russia or China, these same people will come in first and ridicule it, try to derail, or even straight up stand up for and defend those countries. But they say they are Americans, or British, or whatever.

You see, there is a big difference between talking # about your own country, and talking # about your country and then at the same time vigorously defend another country. Consistently.

I know many Americans who are not happy, but they don't defend Russia or China on cue, like it's their job to. There's a very distinct line there.

You have to read between the lines and pay attention to more than just words. We are in a cyber-war as we speak, and we are actively being targeted. Learn how to defend yourselves.

I don't believe much of anything on facebook. After all, they let my kids and grandkids have accounts there.

a reply to: Mahogani

If you belive something someone you do t actually know posts online without doing any research on your own... I don't know what to tell ya... [removed by staff]

originally posted by: Boogerpicker
a reply to: Mahogani

If you belive something someone you do t actually know posts online without doing any research on your own... I don't know what to tell ya... [snipped]

Thank you for your very thoughtful and enlightening post, Boogerpicker.

Welcome to ATS, thanks for reading.

a reply to: Boogerpicker

I think that you are easily manipulated if you so easily make some assumption like that.
It's those emotional triggers and miscalculations that many people have like yourself that can be easy targets for misinformation.
Your triggers are so out in the open it makes you vulnerable.

Well thank God for Meta!
They saved us poor dumb souls from foreign election interference again!
Our heroes!!

Don’t mind all the other disinfo, lies, and propaganda they’ve been pushing for a decade, Russian hoax, Charlottesville hoax, hunter Biden laptop, instagram grooming etc.
Carry on.

Is this anywhere near as bad as stuffing ballots or using programmable voting machines?

Just curious.

a reply to: SteamyAmerican

Well unfortunately there is a very large group of voting aged citizens that rely on social media for their news.
Many are easily manipulated and that huge number of people from all ages across a nation can easily surprise us with its help from far reaching influence grifters.

originally posted by: Allaroundya4k
a reply to: SteamyAmerican

Well unfortunately there is a very large group of voting aged citizens that rely on social media for their news.
Many are easily manipulated and that huge number of people from all ages across a nation can easily surprise us with its far reaching influence.

A simple yes or no would do just fine. I appreciate your interpretation though.

Thank you in advance kindly.

a reply to: SteamyAmerican

Ughh ya haha I may have had a Cheech & Chong moment.

a reply to: Allaroundya4k

Don’t we all.

I’m sure the progenitor of the 4800 profiles feels similarly. Seeing as they also have an incredible amount of grow operations in the US.

Probably a coincidence.

Someone in China created thousands of fake social media accounts designed to appear to be from Americans and used them to spread polarizing political content in an apparent effort to divide the U.S. ahead of next year’s elections, Meta said Thursday.

I guess the Chinese aren't familiar with the phrase, "Carrying coals to Newcastle."

We Americans are perfectly capable of dividing ourselves without any outside help. It wouldn't surprise me if someone in America just outsourced the job to China to save money. American hackers probably wanted dental insurance and a pension plan.

By polarizing and with the current geopolitical landscape, do you mean try and kick off a civil war kind of polarizing? How the $USD goes is a big factor on this one.

a reply to: SteamyAmerican

I don't believe in coincidence.

a reply to: Mahogani

Well, you know what they say about fake Chinese psyop sock accounts: for every 4,800 you see, there's 48,000 you don't see.

I think Tik Tok is about 60% this.

originally posted by: rickymouse
I don't believe much of anything on facebook. After all, they let my kids and grandkids have accounts there.

You shouldn't be considered privileged if you have a Facebook account. On the other hand no need to have one.

I only have friends and family on Facebook and someone keeps cloning one of my Aunts profiles and sending me friend requests every so often.

I have no idea why they keep targeting her but it's a recurring pattern.

originally posted by: Boogerpicker
a reply to: Mahogani

If you belive something someone you do t actually know posts online without doing any research on your own... I don't know what to tell ya... [removed by staff]

You don't have to believe anyone online. All you need to do is have an open mind and do your own research but you can find good people to talk online.

originally posted by: GENERAL EYES
I only have friends and family on Facebook and someone keeps cloning one of my Aunts profiles and sending me friend requests every so often.

I have no idea why they keep targeting her but it's a recurring pattern.

No FB for me.

a reply to: Rosby123

Do whatcha gotta do.

I'm kinda isolated so it's the only way I can really keep in touch with people I care about.

To each their own.

No one is forcing you to participate.