X's new feature revealing the locations of popular accounts has sparked a firestorm of recriminations as dozens of high-engagement pro-Trump and "America first" accounts are revealed to be based overseas. The revelation has highlighted a concerning trend: many of these accounts originate from Asia, fueling debates over whether they represent state-backed influence campaigns or opportunistic grifters.
At the heart of this issue is the lucrative nature of social media platforms like X, where users can monetize their engagement through likes, comments, and shares. The platform's decision to base creator payments on engagement levels has created an environment in which creators feel incentivized to push content that generates a reaction - including outrage, anger, or even hate speech. This phenomenon, dubbed "rage bait," has been exploited by malicious actors to spread disinformation and further polarize online discourse.
Experts point to the sophistication of foreign influence campaigns, but also suggest that the sheer number of pro-Trump accounts around the world may be driven more by profit than politics. Social media's reliance on attention and engagement means that platforms like X can create an environment in which money is tied directly to outrage and controversy - a dynamic that can fuel both legitimate debate and malicious manipulation.
A recent investigation by Benjamin Strick found that nearly all of the "independent Trump supporting" women accounts with thousands of followers are located in Thailand, often posting anti-Islamic content alongside pro-Trump sentiment. This phenomenon highlights how foreign actors have adapted to exploit existing societal tensions to further their agendas - including promoting xenophobic and misogynistic rhetoric to appeal to right-wing audiences.
While the origins of these accounts may be murky, experts agree that this is a symptom of a larger problem: the normalization of extremist ideologies in online spaces. The dark corners of the internet can incubate ideas that spread rapidly through mainstream platforms before being seized upon by politicians - often with disastrous consequences.
As one expert noted, "Extreme ideas start in these dark corners of the internet. They spread, they become memes, they go on to more mainstream platforms and then you see politicians pick them up." The recent example of Donald Trump's Oval Office ambush of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa illustrates how such ideologies have gained traction and even influence policy decisions.
X has been tight-lipped about its response to the controversy, but it is clear that this issue goes beyond individual accounts - it speaks to a broader need for social media platforms to prioritize transparency, accountability, and verifiable content. The stakes are high: if left unchecked, this trend could undermine democratic processes and further polarize online discourse.
At the heart of this issue is the lucrative nature of social media platforms like X, where users can monetize their engagement through likes, comments, and shares. The platform's decision to base creator payments on engagement levels has created an environment in which creators feel incentivized to push content that generates a reaction - including outrage, anger, or even hate speech. This phenomenon, dubbed "rage bait," has been exploited by malicious actors to spread disinformation and further polarize online discourse.
Experts point to the sophistication of foreign influence campaigns, but also suggest that the sheer number of pro-Trump accounts around the world may be driven more by profit than politics. Social media's reliance on attention and engagement means that platforms like X can create an environment in which money is tied directly to outrage and controversy - a dynamic that can fuel both legitimate debate and malicious manipulation.
A recent investigation by Benjamin Strick found that nearly all of the "independent Trump supporting" women accounts with thousands of followers are located in Thailand, often posting anti-Islamic content alongside pro-Trump sentiment. This phenomenon highlights how foreign actors have adapted to exploit existing societal tensions to further their agendas - including promoting xenophobic and misogynistic rhetoric to appeal to right-wing audiences.
While the origins of these accounts may be murky, experts agree that this is a symptom of a larger problem: the normalization of extremist ideologies in online spaces. The dark corners of the internet can incubate ideas that spread rapidly through mainstream platforms before being seized upon by politicians - often with disastrous consequences.
As one expert noted, "Extreme ideas start in these dark corners of the internet. They spread, they become memes, they go on to more mainstream platforms and then you see politicians pick them up." The recent example of Donald Trump's Oval Office ambush of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa illustrates how such ideologies have gained traction and even influence policy decisions.
X has been tight-lipped about its response to the controversy, but it is clear that this issue goes beyond individual accounts - it speaks to a broader need for social media platforms to prioritize transparency, accountability, and verifiable content. The stakes are high: if left unchecked, this trend could undermine democratic processes and further polarize online discourse.
like x just gave away free info on ppl who wanna push pro trump content & profit from it. its not that hard to see how this would attract all sorts of actors... i mean if u got a platform & a way 2 monetize ur engagement then u r probably gonna get exploited by every Tom & Jerry on the internet
. Like, I know they're trying to make some extra cash, but come on! Spreading hate speech just to get more followers? That's not cool at all 
. And now we find out that most of them are from Asia... like, what's going on here? Are these people even citizens of their country or is it just a big scam? 
. They can't just sit back and let these fake accounts spread disinformation and divide us further. It's like they're creating an environment where outrage and controversy are the only way to get attention... and money 
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. And what's worrying is that these extremist ideologies can spread really quickly online before they even reach politicians' ears... it's like, a recipe for disaster 
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. Transparency and accountability are key, or else we're just going to see more of this kind of thing 
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... Like, I get that social media platforms want to make money and all, but this "rage bait" phenomenon is just disgusting 
. These accounts are basically profiting off people's outrage and emotions, which is so not cool. And it’s like, what even is the point of having all these fake Trump supporters if they're just gonna spread disinfo and hate speech? 
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. If we don't, this trend could lead to some major problems, from undermining democratic processes to further polarizing online discourse 
. It's time for these platforms to take responsibility and make our online spaces safer and more respectful 
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like dont get me wrong im all for expressing ur opinion but when its at the expense of actual truth and respect that s when problems start
, like what's the deal with that? it's not even like they're even really trump supporters, they're just making bank off of stirring up drama... i mean, i get it, social media can be a lucrative business, but come on 
like, x needs to step up their game and take responsibility for creating an environment where hate speech and disinformation can spread so easily... it's not just about individual accounts, it's about the entire ecosystem of the platform 
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but at the same time, we can't blame X for policing online content when they're already dealing with so many other issues like fake news and hate speech. Maybe they should just be more transparent about their moderation policies? 
. It's not just about state-backed influence campaigns or malicious actors - it's about the system itself being flawed.
. Do we want our social media platforms to be breeding grounds for hate speech and extremism, or can we design them in a way that promotes constructive debate and respectful disagreement? 
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meanwhile x should be ashamed of itself for not doin anythin about this from the start 
. If people are making that much money off engagement levels on X, shouldn't they be incentivized to create content that resonates with a broader audience? Instead, we're seeing outrage and anger posts that are straight out of the hate speech playbook 
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. It's like they're playing a game of online whack-a-mole, popping up wherever the most vulnerable audience is 
. We need to be vigilant about this stuff and hold social media platforms accountable for their role in spreading misinformation and extremist ideologies 
. It's like social media platforms are basically saying, "Hey, we'll pay you to stir up controversy!" 
. The fact that some of these accounts are just plain misogynistic and xenophobic is just disgusting 
. We need social media platforms to do better here - more transparency, accountability, verifiable content... it's not too much to ask 
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. But what really concerns me is how this stuff affects real people, like politicians who might start spewing these extremist ideas without even realizing it 