X, the company formerly known as Twitter, has been facing a long-standing issue with bots (automated accounts) on its platform. Despite efforts by owner Elon Musk to address this problem, it appears that paid verification alone is not enough to weed out these automated accounts.
Verified Bots are Still a Problem
A recent video posted on Instagram Threads by Chicago-based writer and former Media Matters editor-at-large Parker Molloy shows search results where numerous bots, including many verified with a blue check, are posting a variation of the phrase "I’m sorry, I cannot provide a response as it goes against OpenAI’s use case policy." This response is what OpenAI’s chatbot says when a user asks a question or requests that it perform a task in violation of OpenAI’s terms of service. In this case, it’s an indication that the X account in question is using AI to create its posts.
The Bots are Using Paid Verification
It appears that many of these bot accounts have paid for verification, which was a measure implemented by Musk to help combat the "vast armies of bots" on the platform. However, this has not been effective in weeding out the automated accounts.
Some Suspect X is Behind the Bot Activity
One user in the comments posted in response to Molloy’s video suggested that the bot activity could be coming from X itself. They pointed out that many of these blue-ticked accounts appear to be older, abandoned accounts that were taken back over and turned into blue checkmarks that use AI to automate the account. This could be an effort to boost metrics like daily and monthly active users.
Older Accounts are Being Used for Bot Activity
It does appear that at least some of the bot accounts are older, according to the "join date" displayed on their X profile. These accounts also post content that reads as if it’s the output of an AI query, which is likely the case.
Paid Verification Alone is Not Enough
This situation proves that paid verification alone is not a solution to X’s bot problem. Musk had suggested that everyone would have to pay for X as a "small monthly payment" would help combat the bots on the platform.
Many Bots Are Using AI to Create Content
It’s clear that many bots are using AI to create content, which is not being effectively detected by X’s moderation tools. This has led to concerns about the quality of information being shared on the platform.
The Impact on Users
This bot activity can have a negative impact on users who may be misled or confused by the automated accounts. It also raises questions about the reliability and trustworthiness of the information being shared on X.
What’s Being Done to Address the Issue
X has not commented publicly on the issue, but it’s likely that they are working behind the scenes to address the problem. However, it remains to be seen whether paid verification will ultimately prove effective in combating the bots on the platform.
Conclusion
The verified bot problem on X is a complex and ongoing issue that requires a comprehensive solution. Paid verification alone has not been enough to weed out these automated accounts, and it’s clear that more needs to be done to protect users from misinformation and manipulation.
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Contact Information
Sarah Perez, Consumer News Editor
sarahp@techcrunch.com
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