This Project Matters. And I'll Astroturf This Post To Prove It.

As our feature begins to form, I often find that remembering the purpose behind the project often gives it direction.  Why does this project matter? Why is it important that we target internet users?

To explain, allow me to provide some facts about the Internet’s more popular websites. In doing so, I’ll highlight the ease at which astroturfing can occur on user generated websites.

Firstly, Amazon. The world’s largest online retailer. Amazon is website where users can review or recommend products for purchase, and is ultimately very susceptible to the practices of astroturfing. Amazon’s own review guidelines state that users do not need to have purchased a product to review it. If I were an author trying to flog my book, what’s stopping me from engaging in a little astroturfing?

According to Amazon’s own review guidelines; nothing. Provided I don’t swear, of course.

Secondly, TripAdvisor. Having reportedly been used by over 100 million people, it is the world’s largest social travel network.  A website that enables travelers to both learn and recommend what’s hot and what’s not. But how objective are these recommendations? As The Guardian journalist Sean Dodson explains, anyone is completely free to say anything about practically any hotel in the world. If I were an innkeeper trying to flog my hotel, what’s stopping me from engaging in a little astroturfing?

According to TripAdvisor; nothing. Provided I go about it in a subtle manner, my multiple fake profiles do not need to prove they have in fact visited the place they are reviewing. 

TripAdvisor has over 50 million reviews. Over 10 million of those are reportedly fake.  



Thirdly, social media like Facebook and Twitter. Combined, the two websites have more than one billion users. With such a massive audience; companies, products and causes have sought to use social media to leverage their brand.  What better way to leverage your brand then to literally purchase Twitter followers and Facebook fans? Websites like Real Fans Buy offer companies affordable ways to generate online support through deceitful means. If I were a political candidate trying to flog my campaign, what’s stopping me from engaging in a little astroturfing?

According to the policies of Facebook and Twitter, nothing. Purchasing and falsifying support is a growing and legal business.

And lastly, Blogger.  As I’ve written in a previous post, the ability for people to comment on internet news articles should be an exercise in democracy and free speech. But when an agenda and astroturfing comes into the equation, it’s unfortunately a different story. If I were a University of Sydney student trying to prove the worth of my argument on Blogger, what’s stopping me from engaging in a little astroturfing?

See for yourself below.