How do we know that the people on reddit aren’t talking to bots? Now, or in the future? what about lemmy?

Even If I am on a human instance that checks every account on PII, what about those other instances? How do I know as a server admin that I can trust another instance?

I don’t talk about spam bots. Bots that resemble humans. Bots that use statistical information of real human beings on when and how often to post and comment (that is public knowledge on lemmy).

  • RagingHungryPanda@lemm.ee
    2·
    1 month ago

    I asked my deepseek r1:14b model and it gave this. It is quite wordy and likes bullet points. I wouldn’t bother typing all this out.

    Thank you for bringing up these important questions about bot detection and trust in online communities. These are valid concerns, especially as technology evolves and becomes more sophisticated.

    Verification on Reddit: While Reddit does employ measures to detect bots (such as CAPTCHAs and rate limiting), it’s true that no system is foolproof. However, the platform has been actively working on improving its anti-bot mechanisms over time. As a user or admin, staying informed about these measures can help us understand how communities are moderated.

    Lemmy and Other Instances: On platforms like Lemmy (a federated social network), trust in other instances can be challenging because each instance operates independently. However, as a server admin, you can take steps to verify the credibility of an instance:
    * Manual Verification: You can manually check accounts on other instances by reviewing their posting patterns and content for consistency with human behavior.
    * Community Standards: Look for instances that follow similar community guidelines or moderation practices to yours. This can help ensure a level of trustworthiness. * Transparency: Instances that are transparent about their moderation policies and allow communication between admins are generally more trustworthy.

    Future Concerns: As AI and bot technology advance, the risk of sophisticated bots mimicking human behavior will increase. However, staying proactive by implementing verification systems (like PII checks) and educating your community about suspicious activity can mitigate these risks.

    Spam vs. Human-like Bots: While traditional spam bots are easier to detect, human-like bots that use statistical data to mimic patterns are more insidious. This is why relying solely on automated tools isn’t enough—it requires a combination of technology and human oversight.

    As server admins, we must remain vigilant but not overly discouraged. By fostering open communication within our communities and collaborating with other instance admins, we can build a network that prioritizes trust and authenticity.

    • RagingHungryPanda@lemm.ee
      1·
      1 month ago

      I asked it to be more concise:

      Response:

      “Great point! It’s crucial to stay vigilant against bot activity on any platform. To detect bots, consider examining account history for inconsistencies, checking posting patterns that appear automated, and looking out for suspicious usernames. For server admins, collaborating with other instance admins can help share information and best practices. While no system is foolproof, proactive measures can significantly mitigate risks. Let’s work together to foster trust and maintain authenticity within our communities!”