What Parents and Carers Need to Know about Social Bots

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Alan Martin Technology journalist and former editor
Guide

This free online safety guide focuses on social bots. It highlights a number of risks such as cyberbullying, extortion and astroturfing.

A free online safety guide on social bots.

Bots are computer-generated accounts which sit on social media, masquerading as humans. While many are harmless or even have good intentions, others are designed to extort, sell products, spread propaganda or bully human users. Bots – short for ‘robots’, of course – are often confused with state-funded troll accounts; the two can be difficult to tell apart. However, if the results are the same, then both should be treated similarly.

In the guide, you'll find tips on avoiding potential risks such as cyberbullying, extortion and astroturfing.