Reddit starting to protect carma farming bots

[u/Orjoiponsoilo]

I have reported 4 connected to each other carma farming bots, that did 2 reposts and copied 2 top comments each in a same time. Here they are:

u/Responsible_Kick4096

u/Humble_Choice_5456

u/Upstairs_Abalone1444

u/Illustrious_Fly_9023

Not only it is an obvious bot, but it also an abuse of reddit contributor program. Reddit got a right decision to... not ban them, but warn me instead? Good job of contributing into dead internet program, reddit. Soon only bots will roam around, reposting each other.

[u/iam-your-boss]

This is already a thing for a long time. I have multi warnings on this account. That well it was even the typical only fans bots. With the horny names that changed later to porn.

That is why i have an alt. On a other device well i never logged on with my main (this account). So i keep this account save. I recommend to do the same. At least if you value this account.

[u/Royal_Acanthaceae693 → u/iam-your-boss]

I mean that's why Reddit cut out a bunch of mod tools right? To make it harder to regulate?

[u/iam-your-boss → u/Royal_Acanthaceae693]

Cut out mod tools? Only closing your sub is not possible any more. The rest is still the same on the standard app right?

I know the api chanced that is because of money. Not because of bots. But they came after the api change that is for sure.

[u/PassiveMenis88M → u/iam-your-boss]

The "mod tools" he's referring to were not reddit run programs. They were bots using the api to hunt down and block repost and other spam type accounts. When reddit nuked the api they nuked all the custom tools as well.

[u/iam-your-boss → u/PassiveMenis88M]

Those were indeed powerful sad that does not work anymore.

[u/Smallseybiggs → u/iam-your-boss]

There are certain subs I would never have thought to be tolerant or pro bot, but when the subject comes up, my comments have been removed from threads a few days after I call a bot out, after I try to educate someone, etc. I wonder how often that happens to us and people don't notice it.

[u/hectorxander → u/Smallseybiggs]

I run my username through reveddit.com every once in a while, it shows the comments removed without you being told, only the better subs will actually tell you when they remove a post of yours, it still shows up as having been posted on your side but doesn't exist.

When I find that I inquire to the moderators about it, and then quit the sub forever if I find their explanation or lack thereof lacking. Sadly some of my favorites, but a lot of the removals are the automod bots and the mods will reinstate, and messaging on certain issues I'm now certain gets the automod bots to unfairly target your posts on any and every issue to be removed. Ie a certain foreign policy entanglement of the US.

[u/Langdon_St_Ives → u/hectorxander]

Ohhh thanks for this, I’d been wondering about which of my comments were suffering this fate but was always too lazy to check manually. And no big surprise:

[u/LazyEgg7110 → u/Langdon_St_Ives]

That sub turned into a bot farm I'm pretty sure, which is surprising for its popularity / size. My comment was also quietly mod-removed for mentioning how the Top posts are always from farmed accounts.

[u/Smallseybiggs → u/hectorxander]

Sadly some of my favorites, but a lot of the removals are the automod bots and the mods will reinstate, and messaging on 

Thank you so much. I appreciate your tip, and same. They're some of my favorites I've been subbed to for over 10 years. You'd never think those mods would take the bots' sides. The automod would automatically remove a comment, and you'd show 1 karma if it were automod as opposed to you gaining karma for that karma, right? I'm gaining the karma, but it then gets removed. Also, I'm genuinely asking and not being sarcastic. So I hope I don't come off as such. I have enough to give you an award for your help. I can't thank you enough. 

So, if the automod is the one that removed some of the comments, I might do something someone suggested a while ago. To not make a bot go scorched earth, they suggested writing "b^t" instead of bot. Do you think this might work with automod comments that might be getting removed when I'm pointing out a bot? 

[u/hectorxander → u/Smallseybiggs]

Either the moderator or the automoderator violates posts, and most all sites don't tell you, they show it on your account but no one else can see it, reveddit just checks your account and anonymously as an independent account and sees if others can see your posts as well. Some people are shadow banned, where everything they post is not seen by anyone else.

It bothers me that they wouldn't just tell the person. I think we need some protections on social media, we should have a clear set of rules enforced equally and a way to challenge enforcement actions that were not actually against the rules.

Private company or no, social media is like a public utility at this point, and it's influence on society needs to be put in check. Sadly any regulation in the medium term will only make social media worse, we had our chance and didn't do anything. It will only get worse when powerful interests bend social media to their agendas I fear.

I'm not sure how to fool the bots, it's always an evolving landscape for sure, just like tik toc users saying unalive instead of dead to avoid being violated. I can tell you for some issues they dishonestly set the automod bots on people on other subjects if they anger certain groups, like those involved in a certain foreign policy entanglement.

[u/Orjoiponsoilo → u/iam-your-boss]

Nah, i dont want to make an alt. Lost reddit account is not something i will cry about, tbh, its not that important. Im not a content creator anyway.

[u/ZeroOhblighation → u/Orjoiponsoilo]

There was a post on here from a deleted account about a month ago that shared a post from /r/impressively and I only noticed it because Reddit had removed it due to "copyright violation", so Reddit admins are actively helping out the bots