At National Online Safety, we provide multi-award-winning online safety education for the whole school community. It’s our mission to make the internet a safer place for children. We believe that when children go online to learn, communicate or play, they should be able to do so safely. That’s why we provide schools all over the world with the knowledge they need in order to tackle new and evolving online risks.
Social Bots
Part of our Online Information Series 2020-21
What are social bots?
Bots are computer-generated accounts that sit on social media masquerading as humans. While plenty of them are harmless or even have good intentions, others are deliberately designed to extort, sell products, spread propaganda or bully human users on social media platforms. Bots – short for ‘robots’ – are often confused with state-funded troll accounts, and the two can be difficult to distinguish. However, if the results are the same, then both should be treated in much the same way.
For more information on the associated risks and online safety tips for parents and carers, watch our explainer video, available to those with a National Online Safety membership.
