Interesting analysis on social media about Meghan

[Why2why]

Interesting analysis but who could be paying for this concerted effort? It’s suggested that not only is it coordinated but the people doing it are paid to do so.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.buzzfeednews.com/amphtml/ellievhall/bot-sentinel-meghan-markle-prince-harry-twitter

Gossip? What is the source of this gossip?

@Why2why

My point is that you have no idea whether it's unprecedented or not. They gave no examples of other controversial celebrities whose critics they closely examined where they didn't see the same pattern. Why not? If they haven't scrutinized anyone else's critics the same way, then no one can say it's unusual, because no one knows whether it is or not. And if they have done that and found the same pattern, then it's rather unlikely that they're all victims of a series of conspiracies.

Literally all they've said is that 55 (or 83) accounts are solely focused on criticizing Meghan and/or Harry, that they like and retweet each other's content, that some but not all of their posts violate Twitter's rules, and that when one account gets deleted, another often pops up. That's at least equally consistent with a group of people who have a common (if unpleasant) interest and are adept at skirting bans as it is with any kind of organized campaign. Sure, it's interesting, but holding it out as proof of some nefarious conspiracy is greatly overstating what they actually found.

It's Gossip, like much of what's said and reported regarding these two it's rumour. I don't believe the article is any more accurate than the gossip though I have seen the tweets from accounts known for being quite vicious in their defence of the couple, talking about not getting paid to other such tweeters, so...for me, even if it is true it's happening on both sides.

I don't think they're saying that theres a nefarious conspiracy. I think they're showing how just a few skanky trolls can create a whole lot of internet trolling against one target.

Isn't that just the net though? If you're expecting universal acceptance, you'll be waiting a very long time. There are always assholes wherever you go, sadly.

This is exactly why I don't do SM, I hate how vicious people can be. It's easy to get blasé about the level of nastiness that it's becomes acceptable to abuse people.

There's a massive difference between abuse and fair criticism though.

Theres a big distance between trolling and universal acceptance. I dont see the internet as race to the bottom.

If this isn’t a coordinated attack being encouraged or maybe even paid for by the royal family in order to take the heat off of other members of the family and/or dodgy dealings within it then I’m a monkey’s uncle.

The royal family are at a critical point right now: ailing matriarch for whom the public, broadly speaking, is for, turns 96 next spring. Prince Philip died this year and it’s becoming clear that realistically she has less than five years left in her. She’s the only person most of us have ever known sit on that throne. She’s had the power of this crown for almost 10% or the time it’s been in existence. When she goes there will be a gaping hole in the very institution of monarchy in this country.

Charles and William will be strategising how they fill that hole and keep it filled because it’s looking more and more unlikely to have the same level of stability once she goes. They’re shoring-up and doubling down. They need the crown to be beyond reproach, just as it is now. However that will be much harder without her because Charles (and potentially William, if rumours are to be believed) have done some pretty reproachable stuff. Add all the Andrew stuff to that alongside the numerous divorces, mismanagement of money and heaven knows what else and you’ve got a problem. So they need to divert the attention away from them and onto someone or something else. Harry and Meghan are easy scapegoats. Simple as that.

It’ll probably never be fully known in our lifetimes, but this will be a scandal akin to old Uncle David and his dictator-loving ways in the decades ahead.

Why2why. How did Thomas Markle help scupper M&H’s wedding plans. Did I miss something? Surely they did get married on THAT day in a blaze of publicity.

Gossip is that H&M have been told that they're too controversial to be a good investment to promote businesses/products, so they're desperately trying to prove its a small organised group who are responsible for all the negative attention

Exactly that. Gossip.

I'm not on twitter, I don't do social media, but I still have doubts about their motivation

Yes you do. You are on SM. MN is SM.
Who's motivation? H&M's for paying for this report which is just gossip?

amusedtodeath but you are on social media. That is exactly what Mumsnet is... it's not a private blog with invited viewers, it's a massive clunky forum open to all

Trampoline I'm inclined to agree. This campaign can be dismissed on here as much as we like, it's not surprising given who we're talking about. But I'd rather listen to a company versed in this sort of thing than opinion and gossip.
I think more will come out as time goes on

Get a grip people. The RF have not paid for a social media campaign against the Sussexes, anymore that’s the Sussexes have paid for a campaign against other people by their “squad” of supporters. There will always be some people who are obsessed by a celebrity or cause and will go to all sorts of lengths to support them and harass others, without any apparent motivation other than their irrational devotion/ dislike.

They can do this but death threats against JK Rowling are a mystery

Beyonce was trolled over bump faking that was "unprecedented" too apparently it never happens

@PurpleOkapi can you think of anyone else who has been trolled in social media and in the British Press as much as Meghan and for more than 5 years with great intensity? Give a couple of examples of anyone else you think that BotS should look at.

You seem to gloss over the fact that this is their bread and butter and they are in a position to know what is highly unusual. As they said, in all their years at the job, this is unlike anything they’ve seen, especially so as there is no apparent motive for the hate. She did not cheat on Harry, she did not abuse a minor, etc.

There are many studies on who is most trolled and abused. Black women receive the lion share. Think Diane Abbott, Michelle Obama. So it is untrue to claim that they, in addition to their experience, day in day out consideration of these issues, that there is no comparators.

I understand that even on MN, hundreds of threads were started with the dole purpose of abusing Meghan. It was so unprecedented that MN had to ban these threads for a while.

Nevertheless, my question remains: what precisely is your point? That the abuse is okay because in your view is not too bad? That others are abused to, so no big deal?

I think a quick look back @PurpleOkapi's posting history will show their motivation; another person who "just" doesn't like Meghan. There's just "something about her" they don't like (the "something" being a complete mystery of course).

@TooBigForMyBoots

I don't think they're saying that theres a nefarious conspiracy. I think they're showing how just a few skanky trolls can create a whole lot of internet trolling against one target.

Yes is the bit that springs out at me.

I feel extremely sorry for anyone on the receiving end of this shit, of course. But (on this thread) my interest is primarily that it's an illuminating case-study.

It’s pretty obvious some posters on this thread don’t understand bot networks and are trying very hard disprove the evidence they aren’t qualified to evaluate.

It’s not about “just 55 people” who happen to need a new hobby. These are sophisticated bot networks being run by people who are paid to do these campaigns. If anyone remembers, a few years back “The King of Spam” was arrested and sent to prison. That one man was literally responsible for 92% of the email spam in the entire world. He did it via servers and bot networks. He was a multimillionaire by scamming people using phishing emails, etc.

That is the level of data and information manipulation we’re talking about in regards to H & M and any other person who gets a campaign against them. Hillary Clinton, Emmanuel Macron, whichever celebrity or political figure.

This is on the same level as Russians and Moldovans using automated disinformation and troll bot networks to sow division in western democracies and disrupt societies and elections. Targeting specific voting groups to sow apathy against voting. Targeting social justice movements with right wing racist media. Why do you think Harry is on the board of the Aspen Institute’s Commission on Information Disorder? This is what they and we are up against. Massive disinformation campaigns.

And some posters on this thread and on many others still believe they genuinely don’t like Meghan for some strange reason they can’t quite put their finger on. They keep listening to the troll bot networks and thinking this is all real human sentiment.

@Why2why thanks for posting about this.

Thanks, JingsMahBucket, I hadn't heard of the Aspen Institute’s Commission on Information Disorder.

Looks very interesting.

In general I'm interested in information flows and disinformation, and how they are affecting decision-making and democracy.

Haven't been keeping up with it at all, recently, but clearly I should go back to paying some attention.

Commission on Information Disorder – Aspen Institute
www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/commission-on-information-disorder/

Thank you @PerkingFaintly and you’re very welcome. The more people who understand where we are right now, the better.

Christopher Bouzy is well known for criticising C&W on his Twitter account, so not exactly unbiased.

So if you don't like MM, you're a troll, racist, hater?

Jesus Christ, I don't think she is being genuine. So sue me.

Piers Morgan - most trolled person of 2021.

Russians and Moldovans using automated disinformation and troll bot networks to sow division in western democracies and disrupt societies and elections. Targeting specific voting groups to sow apathy against voting. Targeting social justice movements with right wing racist media.

Yea, that’s not really the same as is happening to M&H, who aren’t all that important to the vast majority of people.

@amusedtodeath1

Christopher Bouzy is well known for criticising C&W on his Twitter account, so not exactly unbiased.

Interesting that you think Kate and William are part of the picture.

The point is, the data and their methodology are there to be scrutinised. So if you think the analysis is wrong, going ahead and explain why it is not robust.

The one thing you cannot claim id that Kate and William are the most trolled. They certainly benefit from the ant-Meghan campaign.

The point is not that Meghan should not be hated or disliked. The point is it is coordinated, on an unprecedented scale, sustained for years and does not hang on any justifiable reason other that pure dislike and hate. Rather it is all about push misinformation and lies.

Of course, hate Meghan all you like but if it is based on lies, misinformation and generally no good reason then that’s the problem.

Because there’s no reason for the level of hate, her gender and race are clearly going to be part of the explanation.

@amusedtodeath1

Christopher Bouzy is well known for criticising C&W on his Twitter account, so not exactly unbiased.

I’ve just looked at some of his tweets re William. Clearly #BeKind isn’t one of his mantras.

@amusedtodeath1. Exactly! It works the other way too. Both camps are awful.

I can’t on this thread to see if the two relentless Meghan defenders would be ‘on it’ and sure enough they’re on it, ready and waiting…