Social Bot

Social bots are automated accounts designed to manipulate online social networks by spreading disinformation and influencing public opinion. Current research focuses on improving bot detection methods, employing techniques like graph neural networks, contrastive learning, and advanced machine learning models to identify bot behavior patterns and distinguish them from human users, often incorporating textual analysis and user profile features. The accurate identification of social bots is crucial for mitigating the spread of misinformation and maintaining the integrity of online platforms, impacting both the scientific understanding of online manipulation and the development of effective countermeasures.