Worrying manipulation of social media.

Just imagine how he will vote age 35

I get them too, and I'm much older! I suggest that DGS does not engage with the posts and scrolls past because they will send stuff they think he wants to read, it isn't a person sending them but a system which doesn't discriminate against political posts- just on the amount of clicks a post receives.

It is also important to speak to your DGS about what he's finding on-line, but more especially to listen and engage with his opinions.

You seem to be doing this already so this is a positive thing for you both.

Which site is he using?

I can't stop getting Fox News in my Facebook Feed. I have blocked it many times and I keep getting it

Tik tok was just taken over by q UD entity and was down much of the last week. Now users are reporting that they can not put on words such as ICE or Epstein.

The Oligarchs are manipulating us.

*a US

Based on reports surrounding the 2024 UK General Election and subsequent analysis, a significant volume of social media content supporting Reform has been linked to bot accounts.

High Volume of Content:

Analysis by Global Witness found that a small network of 45 "bot-like" accounts on X (formerly Twitter) produced around 440,000 posts between May 22 and July 4, 2024, generating over 3 billion impressions, with many of these accounts actively supporting Reform UK.

Persistent Activity:

In the 2.5 weeks following the election, these accounts continued to produce around 170,000 posts, racking up over 1.3 billion impressions.

Proportion of Comments:

Some reports have suggested that as many as 90% of certain pro-Reform comments on social media platforms may be generated by automated bots.

Other Platforms:

In addition to X, bot-like accounts and inauthentic profiles have been identified on TikTok and Facebook, often pushing content related to Reform UK, with some accounts traced to locations outside the UK.

These bot networks are often used to amplify divisive, anti-migrant, or right-wing content, making the support for Reform UK appear more widespread than it may be.

Obviously, they will be upping the output as we head towards the Gorton & Denton by-election.

Depending on what the settings on particular platforms allow, he may be able to filter what he sees on keywords but as iamaround says. the algorithms find a way around.

This from Good Law Project about how Reform is collecting our data all ready to instigate their own version of ICE if they are elected.

Reform is harvesting your data, and ignoring people when they get in touch – so we’re taking them to court

goodlawproject.org/update/farages-reform-is-collecting-your-data-heres-why/?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=reformgroup_update_22680&utm_medium=social_media&utm_content=03-02-2026

Reform is very open about their goals. Their own privacy policy is clear as day: they want to “create and maintain a profile for every registered voter in the UK”. Not just Reform voters, every voter – and that means you. With the party putting together policies for a future government modelled on ICE in America, that’s a very scary prospect.

Reform has also used a powerful software tool called NationBuilder. That tool can be used to do something called micro-targeting, by scraping social media and commercial databases and building deep profiles of voters. Companies can stalk your internet existence – your Facebook posts, your shopping, your YouTube habit – and then use all that information to stoke division and hate.

Reform say they want to profile millions of people, and then ignore them when they ask to see their data. We’re going to court with 51 of the people who Reform ignored and then denied holding data on. You have a right to know what data Reform has on you, and they have a duty to respond.

Didn't realise it was as bad as that!
Do not understand why anyone feels that Reform is a 'good thing'.

The term "far right" is a bit concerning imo.

Personally I have a baseline of what a friend described as "Should be getting a balanced view then" - and scan two newspapers daily - ie the Daily Mail and the Guardian - and find both of them put up articles I do not regard as "objective". But I guess - between the two - I might get an objective picture.

I don't find it helpful myself to grade views as "Those are mine - I want them" and these are "Far left" or "Far right" - as there is truth on all sides and no-one has a monopoly on it. Imo it pays to scan all viewpoints possible - rather than just closing one's mind and saying "That's not Mine - close it".

He will find - as he goes through life - that the exact same sentiments will be regarded very differently in different eras. I've certainly found that the same viewpoints that were sometimes regarded as "communist" way back when are denigrated now and instead I find myself sometimes being lumped in with what the writer regards as "far right". Huh??? Howzat possible - same person with same viewpoints in same lifetime? As at now - I am fed-up to the back teeth with sometimes being referred to casually/without thought as "far right" - how the heck could I be - with the same viewpoints that basically make me a "liberal" (which is what I really am)?

Never shut your mind to the "opposite" viewpoint - because there's a good chance it will contain some truth. Never open your mind fully to to what you regard as "your" viewpoint - as it will contain some lies. Be like the Anglicans - ie a "broad church" and that's the best way there is to see the truth imo.

The Oligarchs are manipulating us.

And people have been saying for years that conspiarcy theorists have been getting it all wrong!

Maremia

Didn't realise it was as bad as that!
Do not understand why anyone feels that Reform is a 'good thing'.

It’s bizarre, isn’t it? Why do so many continue to fall for Farage’s diatribe? This man of the people rubbish is so transparent.

He does seem more "ordinary" than some MPs.

His "pub" image helps.

Not sure why we are back on that subject again?

The more oxygen they get, the more support they get, it seems to me.

Well, I would say that is quite a good thing to have posts of a different political persuasion as it will help him evaluate his own views. Good thing to read as much political material as possible if this is a subject which interests him, and enabling him to understand other people' views without necessarily agreeing with them.

Yes if as an adult you can't with a variety of views that is concerning. I get lots of far left posts/information, I seem to be able to cope. In terms of children in a few years time we will look back in terms of their access to social media with horror

I am relieved that my DGS knows his own mind and isn’t swayed by these posts. He is very politically literate and reads widely on the subject. The concerning thing is that they seem to be targeting the young population in this way and others might not be so well informed.

That’s good to hear, Nandalot.

Reform know their popularity lies with older people many of whom will no longer be around come the next election. Some 600,000 old people die every year while at the other end, 800,000 young people turn 18.

Between 2024 and 2029 that means 3 million fewer old voters and 5 million new voters.

More than that as the voting age will have been reduced to 16 by 2029.

www.gov.uk/government/news/16-year-olds-to-be-given-right-to-vote-through-seismic-government-election-reforms

If you look at current polling data you will see that among the 65+ demographic 34% favour Reform and only 4% the Greens. Among the 18-24 only 6% favour Reform and 46% the Greens.

By and large young people really don’t like the Reform brand with its obsession with immigration, gender issues and climate change denial.

And that’s why the Reform bots are going after young people. Its popularity with older people has plateaued so it’s now targetting young people.

I give young people credit for seeing through Farage and his bunch of failed Tories.

If you mean womens rights issues when you refer to gender, the other parties only have themselves to blame for adopting misogynistic homophobic views on the gender debate.

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That’s good to hear, Nandalot.

Reform know their popularity lies with older people many of whom will no longer be around come the next election. Some 600,000 old people die every year while at the other end, 800,000 young people turn 18.

Between 2024 and 2029 that means 3 million fewer old voters and 5 million new voters.

More than that as the voting age will have been reduced to 16 by 2029.

www.gov.uk/government/news/16-year-olds-to-be-given-right-to-vote-through-seismic-government-election-reforms

If you look at current polling data you will see that among the 65+ demographic 34% favour Reform and only 4% the Greens. Among the 18-24 only 6% favour Reform and 46% the Greens.

By and large young people really don’t like the Reform brand with its obsession with immigration, gender issues and climate change denial.

And that’s why the Reform bots are going after young people. Its popularity with older people has plateaued so it’s now targetting young people.

I give young people credit for seeing through Farage and his bunch of failed Tories.

👏👏👏

I get this from the Labor party here all the time. It annoys me so much so that next time I am not going for them. All they do is ask for donations and as far as I’m concerned they can go jump.

Nandalot

I am relieved that my DGS knows his own mind and isn’t swayed by these posts. He is very politically literate and reads widely on the subject. The concerning thing is that they seem to be targeting the young population in this way and others might not be so well informed.

Spot on as to why it's of so great concern, Nandalot. Your DGS can filter them in. his mind, but in an era where less and less young people go to mainstream media....

He sounds like he's growing into bright and valuable member of society.

Very far left views are attractive to the young, they offer idealistic solutions that may not work in Real Life, but time will temper the views as he grows older especially if he then engages in politics and comes up against its limitations.

Well said, CariadAgain, the idea that the Right, or 'Far Right' whatever that actually is, in practice, are the only ones who manipulate the media is ludicrous. I'm sorry to day, Nandalot, that I would describe your grandson as politically bigoted (maybe a tad self-righteous?) rather than 'aware.' But such is the enthusiasm and arrogance of youth...and not only youth...

If anyone makes political posts on Facebook they are going to get targetted by other political posts, they may agree or not ithe remedy is to stop your posts.
Thats how FB works, to get free access you consent to similar material being posted to you.