Bot network
A bot network is a group of fake or automated accounts acting in coordination to spread a message or damage a target.
Signs
Similar posts within the same minute, accounts created on the same dates, small clusters sharing each other, artificially trending hashtags.
Response
Platforms ban coordinated inauthentic behaviour; one report documenting the pattern beats many single reports.
Frequently asked questions
Can the operator be identified?
It is hard; pattern analysis and legal process sometimes reveal links.