| I disagree about how hard it is to find a shill. I'm never certain and I don't think you can be. You should register everything you read online as at least slightly suspect. Thanks for the information and the arguments supported by links. Here are some other links for you. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing#Business_and_adop... http://swampland.time.com/2012/11/07/inside-the-secret-world... http://mprcenter.org/blog/2013/01/how-obama-won-the-social-m... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HBGary#Astroturfing "Maraya helps you, through its proprietary tools and templates, dialogue with and retain your online audience effectively for high social media ROI. Maraya Media’s intelligent dialogue platform offers brands, agencies, community managers, publishers and individuals alike a range of social media management solutions that enables them to intelligently manage, engage, recruit and retain fans, followers and customers online. The offering ranges from social network management and campaign publishing, through strategic audience dialogue, message and campaign planning, brand partnership and collaboration, social conversation innovation, analysis and optimization." http://www.marayamedia.com/company.php https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140224/17054826340/new-s... http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/02/16/945768/-UPDATED-The... I would only add that the US uses these techniques with other countries all the time - and in fact that's what this article is ultimately about. Google's role. http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/usaid-effort-t... http://minerva.dtic.mil/ |