It has long been suspected that there is paid for bot activity going on that is being targeted at Harry and Meghan online. This is especially prevalent on Twitter (hi Kayla and other such trolls). While there is plenty of speculation as to who is launching these coordinated attacks, we will reframe from directly accusing anyone until a canny investigative journalist fully uncovers the culprit, or an insider stars talking.
Being wary of bots is important because their aim is to hijack positive conversations about The Sussex’s’, but also, to tire out the Squad.
We must be careful not to engage too much with these accounts.
What to do if you spot a potential bot/paid troll.
If you reply, reframe from immediately getting into a heated debate. Some alternatives are a) replying by saying you know they’re a bot and then blocking/muting them, or b) not responding at all, and if you want to warn others about the individual, screen shot their profile and prompt people to block the account.
How to tell if an account is fishy
Here are some things Sussex Squad peeps need to look out for when trying to decide if an account is a troll account:
- The account has been created in the last 3-6 months
- The account has several numbers in the username
- The account either has a low following, or, has around about the same number of followers as it is following – usually 100-300
- The account is following accounts with the similar characteristics as listed above
- The content that the accounts posts seems inconsistent. They only reply to posts about Harry and about Meghan negatively, and retweet other people’s posts. They rarely comment independently about anything else
- They have a black person/POC as the avatar. This has become more common since the Oprah interview as the trolls attempt to make it look like people of colour are against Meghan. We suspect that at least some of these accounts are fake. They may also put #BLM hashtags or pronouns in their bio as a red-herring, not a conscious attempt to support marginalised groups
- Seem to become more active when The Firm is pushing a PR puff piece about the Royals in Britain
We need to strike a balance between calling out the trolls/bots and not feeding the monster. Going forward, whenever you see a negative comment about Harry or Meghan, scan the individual’s profile and consider if it’s worth responding at all.
Whomever is orchastaring these Twitter hate campaigns can make all the fake accounts they want – they can’t compete with teens on Tik Tok dragging the other Royals.
Elizabeth+Badu says
That was educative and insightful article merci ma belle.
Cheryl Delecia (DIY Queen) says
I do not have many followers but I was wonder why so many accounts with POC were dragging M&H.
Thanks for the heads up
Winifred+Morris says
Thank you for the information since it’s only Thursday I finally made up my mind and joined Twitter
Danna Wroblewski says
Also if you look at the account address on Facebook and it is First.Last.number
example, John.Smith.54243
This is a file system so that the people controlling it can know what room or article its in and keep track of it.
Evelyn Bell says
Thanks for the information. It’s very helpful. Especially for those in my age group.
Sherry Ware says
Fabulous article as always so squaddies can ‘properly identify Sussexes Trolls.’
Thank you for giving Meghan’s and Harry’s fans the tools to identify their enemies (yep, I said enemies), and how to smartly refrain from engaging in heated conversations with these trolls.
It’s a definite effort by Harry’s and Meghan’s bots/trolls to ultimately tire out their supporters from speaking up for Harry and Meghan, and the end result is to ‘silence us.’
As squaddies, we need to be ‘strategic’ when responding to trolls/bots, and not feeding the negative monster while still promoting all the positive initiatives and news on the Sussexes.
Harry and Meghan are global now and have a universal platform to promote their charitable endeavors, and Shutter Island isn’t the ‘center of the universe’ for anyone let alone Meghan and Harry!
Kathleen Williams (Majorie Williams) says
Thanks for the tip. When it comes to social media, I am a luddite so I only follow people I have seen formerly on Squad podcasts but even I can spot some recurring names and messages; all negative of course. They must be paid or randomly generated somehow. Recently one boasted on you tube about being paid.
There is going to be a lot more activity now that the Scotland visit has turned into a steaming pile!
RoseH says
I must take heed because I purposely joined Twitter to give back to those trolls what they vomit out there. Now makes sense why idiots who pose as POC will critise H and M! Think I will start blocking them henceforth rather than responding actually