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Does Reddit have an astroturfing problem? What the data suggests

312 points · 408 comments · p-s-v

  1. neilv · · focus · HN ↗
    > REDCmts sells one Reddit comment for $9.99 and 100 for $699.99, from what it calls "real, aged accounts", and shows a gallery of brand mentions it says it delivered. Soar says its accounts are "aged and manually warmed" for weeks before a single brand mention. Bazzly advertises automated replies to every post that looks like someone shopping.

    Why doesn't Reddit make sure that shilling is disallowed by their ToS, and then sue these companies and all their customers?

    1. add-sub-mul-div · · focus · HN ↗
      For the same reason Amazon doesn't solve fake reviews. Their business needs the content and they're confident that the people who haven't left for better options will remain undiscerning.
      1. noncoml · · focus · HN ↗
        > left for better options

        Please name one

        Genuinely asking

        1. KingOfCoders · · focus · HN ↗
          In Germany e.g. Galaxus works fine for many things. Also eBay surprisingly works better for many things because it has more filters, e.g. if you want to buy wood or window shades etc.
          1. zelphirkalt · · focus · HN ↗
            eBay has become a cesspool though, with their silly login requiring phone number and so on. I still remember I had a completely fine Kleinanzeigen account at the beginning of the Pandemic, because I wanted to offer math and computer stuff help for students and put an ad for that on kleinanzeigen. (Didn't ever get a request that was worth taking seriously.) Then at some point later, I suddenly was no longer allowed to log in, unless I disclose my phone number. What a shit. Since then that account sits stale or might already be deleted.
            1. KingOfCoders · · focus · HN ↗
              Kleinanzeigen != eBay
              1. zelphirkalt · · focus · HN ↗
                It displays their approach to things. It's not called "ebay kleinanzeigen" for nothing.
        2. [deleted] · · focus · HN ↗

          [deleted]

        3. add-sub-mul-div · · focus · HN ↗
          Not sure which you're asking about but, for example, Best Buy price matches Amazon for items where they overlap. And then I can go get the product right away without waiting for shipping. Or paying for Prime. Or supporting Amazon.
        4. SoftTalker · · focus · HN ↗
          Literally any other seller.

          I try to go to manufacturers own online store if they have one. Or a local retailer. Or a specialty online seller. Or Walmart but they have third party sellers too so you have to avoid those.

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