Thoughts on inauthentic accounts and amplification through automation. I've noted this type of automation drives the initial push of a tweet or post and the rest relies on a network of collaborators, organic audiences, and traditional media (eg articles, podcasts, tv). /1

What I did is grab tweets/ posts at random from people like @charliekirk11 and @MrAndyNgo and monitor their growth in the first 10 minutes. A botnet/ troll farm is used first to artificially amplify their contents; this mass distributes the tweet to a wider organic audience. /2

My theory is that this initial automated amplification creates a simulation of wide acceptance of an idea, narrative, talking point, or user, therefore, creating an artificial bubble where organic users have their reality defined or thoughts coerced. The bandwagon effect. /3

The basic methodology of automated amplification are:

1. Create/post narrative, idea, talking point
2. Amplify with inauthentic accounts
3. Create simulated wide acceptance for an organic audience to join the amplification, the bandwagon effect. /4

In short, the first automated push creates a bandwagon effect on organic users. This is why, IMO, the first 10 to 20 minutes are the most important to monitor during a suspicious/ or suspect user's post/tweet. /5

IMO, the first automated/inauthentic push is the most important step in spreading disinformation and the hardest to monitor and record. Most importantly the first victims of this disinformation / influence ops are the right-wing organic audience (endogroup) themselves. /6

The goal of inauthentic accounts and automated amplification is to manipulate these targeted users into loyalty, anti-social actions, and keep their money (donations, payments, Ad engagements) rolling in for bad faith operators and/or shady LTD's, campaigns, scam artists, etc. /7

When they experience pushback from wider society or political opposition it strengthens the sense of living into different endorealities, this increases their susceptibility to lash out at any opposing or dissident voices, engage in violence, or partake in gang-like behavior. /8

The use of troll farms & artificial amplification to boost anti-social users increases the division we are currently experiencing; raises the possibility of politically motivated unrest, civil war, & violence. Understanding them more is important for countering/disabling them. /9