As the presidential election draws nearer, the spread of bogus information online is getting a huge boost from social media accounts that have been created anonymously.

The reposts and expressions of shock from public figures followed quickly after a user on the social platform X who uses a pseudonym claimed that a government website had revealed “skyrocketing” rates of voters registering without a photo ID in three states this year — two of them crucial to the presidential contest.

“Extremely concerning,” X owner Elon Musk replied twice to the post this past week.

“Are migrants registering to vote using SSN?” Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, an ally of former President Donald Trump, asked on Instagram, using the acronym for Social Security number.

Trump himself posted to his own social platform within hours to ask, “Who are all those voters registering without a Photo ID in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Arizona??? What is going on???”

…

Yet by the time they tried to correct the record, the false claim had spread widely. In three days, the pseudonymous user’s claim amassed more than 63 million views on X, according to the platform’s metrics. A thorough explanation from Richer attracted a fraction of that, reaching 2.4 million users.

The incident sheds light on how social media accounts that shield the identities of the people or groups behind them through clever slogans and cartoon avatars have come to dominate right-wing political discussion online even as they spread false information.

  • lennybird@lemmy.worldEnglish
    55·
    8 months ago

    If it doesn’t matter to you and Biden will still win in your state, then pro-tip, just don’t comment?

    For you’ve got fundamentally zero argument whatsoever to the stated facts:

    Facts:

    • Either Trump or Biden will become President after November.
    • Trump will be worse NOT JUST for Palestinians, but also Ukrainians, and domestic civil liberties including women’s rights.
    • Under a comparative, logical choice, it stands to reason that to minimize the most damage to other people and our own country that we should probably take the lesser poison.

    Hopefully by your 30s you learn the fundamentals of US elections and that the DNC doesn’t just unilaterally appoint Biden, hahahah!

    This guy, trying so hard to get the guy who will commit MORE genocide elected hahahah… Good thinking, buddy!

    • gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      45·
      8 months ago

      If it doesn’t matter to you and Biden will still win in your state, then pro-tip, just don’t comment?

      Like I said, it’s funny to watch authoritarian assholes get bent out of shape. I can comment if I want, you’re the one that’s gotta deal.

      For you’ve got fundamentally zero argument whatsoever to the stated facts:

      Probably because they’re irrelevant to the point being made. Haven’t read em yet, let’s see:

      Either Trump or Biden will become President after November.

      Yup, irrelevant

      Trump will be worse NOT JUST for Palestinians, but also Ukrainians, and domestic civil liberties including women’s rights.

      Yup, still has nothing to do with what we were talking about.

      Under a comparartive, logical choice, it stands to reason that to minimize the most damage to other people and our own country that we should probably take the lesser poison.

      And again, not relevant. Wow, 3/3!

      Hopefully by your 30s you learn the fundamentals of US elections and that the DNC doesn’t just unilaterally appoint Biden, hahahah!

      Ok so you literally can’t read. Thought so.

      This guy, trying so hard to get the guy who will commit MORE genocide elected

      See? Your default assumption is wrong so you rant and rave about shit that’s just not true. But go off on one you insane fuck

      • lennybird@lemmy.worldEnglish
        44·
        8 months ago

        Oh my, if those are irrelevant to you then your reading-comprehension is worse than I feared. Okay, buddy just stay in school a little longer and maybe we can go from there.

          • lennybird@lemmy.worldEnglish
            42·
            8 months ago

            You’re using them as petty unfounded insults.

            I’m using them as facts revealing projection.

            • gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
              22·
              8 months ago

              Whatever makes you feel less like the blotheringly stupid dick you’ve been this time, dude

              Stay mad as fuck, it’s funny to watch dipshits rage at someone for not toeing the line

              • lennybird@lemmy.worldEnglish
                22·
                8 months ago

                Ladies and gentlemen who are bystanders of this thread, tell me, who seems more “mad as fuck” between the two of us here?

                Honestly, such a tough-guy blowhard mentality.