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Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

BeyondGeography

(39,278 posts)
Sat Jan 25, 2020, 09:40 PM Jan 2020

Sanders supporters have weaponized Facebook to spread angry memes about his Democratic rivals

A Democrat in Michigan scrolled through a surge of nasty Facebook memes about Sen. Elizabeth Warren last week before fixing on one that captured his growing dislike of the candidate. It depicted her smiling face as a mask. Behind it was Hillary Clinton. Matt Walters, 64, a retired factory worker and supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), shared the image onward to eight Facebook groups and tens of thousands of potential eyeballs with a few taps on his smartphone — using a popular new mass-posting technique that allows ordinary Americans to operate with rapid-fire speed reminiscent of Russian bots and trolls in 2016.

In that small way, Walters contributed to a massive wave of hostile memes about Sanders’s Democratic rivals that both reflects the rising divisiveness in the party’s nominating contest and, in the view of social media experts, exacerbates it.

... The volume and viciousness of the memes — portraying Warren (D-Mass.) as a snake, a backstabber and a liar — reflect how Facebook identifies and rewards emotionally charged content to generate reactions from its billions of users. That serves the company’s ad-driven business model, which equates engagement with profit. But it also, in the view of experts who study Facebook’s effect on political speech, distorts democratic debate by confirming biases, sharpening divisions and elevating the glib visual logic of memes over reasoned discussion.

...The rising popularity of the tactic among Sanders supporters may help explain the scores of images bashing Sanders’s opponents that have appeared in nearly simultaneous bursts in recent weeks, pushed out by highly networked clusters of Facebook users, according to Davis’s analysis. He did not find evidence that the campaign itself was involved in this activity, focusing instead on the informal Facebook activity by supporters.

... No other Democrat’s supporters are engaged in behavior on a similar scale, which is more characteristic of the online movement galvanized by Trump. The president’s campaign aides have credited Facebook with his victory in 2016, when he poured money into advertising on the platform while also using organic posts on social media to speak directly to his followers, who responded with a torrent of posts backing him and lacerating his opponents...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/01/24/facebook-is-inflaming-divides-tearing-democratic-party/?fbclid=IwAR0BJgprXH53ZmcTNDTaTmICM44MlTvouMYyhQIRyqjXUpSeXU1spi604cs




If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
34 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Sanders supporters have weaponized Facebook to spread angry memes about his Democratic rivals (Original Post) BeyondGeography Jan 2020 OP
Sanders supporters meanies! Hassin Bin Sober Jan 2020 #1
negative never works. Didn't work the last time either Thekaspervote Jan 2020 #3
You read the OP.. "weaponized".. Cha Jan 2020 #4
Hey maybe it's not Sanders followers maybe it's the Russians. Anything it takes right? nt UniteFightBack Jan 2020 #21
If you read the article, you may have seen this: ehrnst Jan 2020 #23
lol janterry Jan 2020 #26
Zuckerberg hates Warren because she pushes for accountability blm Jan 2020 #2
LMAO! Like supporters of otha Democratic candidates arent postin a lot of negative memes bout Bernie InAbLuEsTaTe Jan 2020 #5
From the article: "No other Democrat's supporters are engaged in behavior on a similar scale, ehrnst Jan 2020 #24
Whataboutism? Eko Jan 2020 #34
K and R! Hassin Bin Sober Jan 2020 #6
WOW. nt UniteFightBack Jan 2020 #20
This is a reflection of the candidate. yardwork Jan 2020 #7
This Thekaspervote Jan 2020 #10
Bull shit. CentralMass Jan 2020 #8
I agree BeyondGeography Jan 2020 #9
Thank you, understood. CentralMass Jan 2020 #12
Alienating Warren supporters BeyondGeography Jan 2020 #13
I am on Facebook and my feed has no such post from Sanders supporters attacking rivals. CentralMass Jan 2020 #17
This is happening, and Warren, who has consistently been supportive of Bernie, is a favorite target BeyondGeography Jan 2020 #22
There's more to Facebook than your feed. TwilightZone Jan 2020 #30
Because it's uncomfortable? ehrnst Jan 2020 #25
I have not seen these... Mike Nelson Jan 2020 #11
Anger is all they have left NCProgressive Jan 2020 #14
It's not just FB Docreed2003 Jan 2020 #15
Exactly Rebl2 Jan 2020 #16
Yeah it very well may be not just Americans doing that...have we learned nothing? nt UniteFightBack Jan 2020 #19
This is not good. nt UniteFightBack Jan 2020 #18
same ol shit from them..if he cant control his minions..hows he gonna control russia? samnsara Jan 2020 #27
The Democratic electorate on social media is not the Democratic electorate. Scurrilous Jan 2020 #28
I have been on Facebook since it started Srkdqltr Jan 2020 #29
I am on Facebook every day, and... Stellar Jan 2020 #32
Those Bernie Bros are So MEAN! Stellar Jan 2020 #31
Welcome to the internet WaPo. aikoaiko Jan 2020 #33
 

Thekaspervote

(32,606 posts)
3. negative never works. Didn't work the last time either
Sat Jan 25, 2020, 09:44 PM
Jan 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Cha

(295,899 posts)
4. You read the OP.. "weaponized"..
Sat Jan 25, 2020, 09:45 PM
Jan 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

UniteFightBack

(8,231 posts)
21. Hey maybe it's not Sanders followers maybe it's the Russians. Anything it takes right? nt
Sat Jan 25, 2020, 10:30 PM
Jan 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)
23. If you read the article, you may have seen this:
Sun Jan 26, 2020, 09:01 AM
Jan 2020
The rising popularity of the tactic among Sanders supporters may help explain the scores of images bashing Sanders’s opponents that have appeared in nearly simultaneous bursts in recent weeks, pushed out by highly networked clusters of Facebook users, according to Davis’s analysis. He did not find evidence that the campaign itself was involved in this activity, focusing instead on the informal Facebook activity by supporters.

No other Democrat’s supporters are engaged in behavior on a similar scale, which is more characteristic of the online movement galvanized by Trump. The president’s campaign aides have credited Facebook with his victory in 2016, when he poured money into advertising on the platform while also using organic posts on social media to speak directly to his followers, who responded with a torrent of posts backing him and lacerating his opponents.

.........................................

Some of the most active users operate multiple groups and pages, which can obscure the origin of a particular post. The page called “Woodland Spaces,” for example, features mainly nature photography and evocative poetry, but last week it accused Warren of a “smear campaign” against Sanders in a Facebook group called “Bernie’s Army of One Hundred Million Americans."

In other cases, untangling the web of common ownership reveals unseemly linkages. The same page, “Bernies Revolution Continues," that owns the “Bernie Sanders’ Rare Meme Repository” group also owns a group called “The Anti Corruption Movement,” which includes posts about “satanic Zionism," as well as positive memes about Trump.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

blm

(112,919 posts)
2. Zuckerberg hates Warren because she pushes for accountability
Sat Jan 25, 2020, 09:43 PM
Jan 2020

and he doesn’t want to be held accountable.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

InAbLuEsTaTe

(24,110 posts)
5. LMAO! Like supporters of otha Democratic candidates arent postin a lot of negative memes bout Bernie
Sat Jan 25, 2020, 09:46 PM
Jan 2020

Riiiiiiiiiiight!! And those EVIL BERNIE SUPPORTERS have "WEAPONIZED Facebook" ... oooh that's SCARY.l!! That scores 10 extra Bernie Bashing points!!

Seriously though, that's okay... the more Baseless Boundless Bernie Bashing there is, the more Bernie surges in the polls!! SO HAVE AT IT!! GO BERNIE!!


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)
24. From the article: "No other Democrat's supporters are engaged in behavior on a similar scale,
Sun Jan 26, 2020, 09:04 AM
Jan 2020

which is more characteristic of the online movement galvanized by Trump."

Reading the article before lashing out would help the credibilty of one's objections.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Eko

(7,170 posts)
34. Whataboutism?
Sun Jan 26, 2020, 04:54 PM
Jan 2020

Really?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

yardwork

(61,408 posts)
7. This is a reflection of the candidate.
Sat Jan 25, 2020, 09:50 PM
Jan 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

BeyondGeography

(39,278 posts)
13. Alienating Warren supporters
Sat Jan 25, 2020, 10:03 PM
Jan 2020

many of whom agree with Bernie on the issues, is bullshit on steroids.

I hope that’s understood.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

CentralMass

(15,265 posts)
17. I am on Facebook and my feed has no such post from Sanders supporters attacking rivals.
Sat Jan 25, 2020, 10:26 PM
Jan 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

BeyondGeography

(39,278 posts)
22. This is happening, and Warren, who has consistently been supportive of Bernie, is a favorite target
Sat Jan 25, 2020, 11:04 PM
Jan 2020
The meme shared by Walters, the retired Michigan factory worker, was just one of dozens of anti-Warren images circulating recently and one of several that portrayed her as the second coming of Clinton, whose own bid to become the first female president in 2016 ended in division and defeat for Democrats. The version that Walters reposted reached about 500,000 Facebook users on 50 groups since it began circulating on Facebook in September, according to Davis.


If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

TwilightZone

(25,342 posts)
30. There's more to Facebook than your feed.
Sun Jan 26, 2020, 10:17 AM
Jan 2020

Assuming that one's own experience is representative of the whole is a common misconception.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)
25. Because it's uncomfortable?
Sun Jan 26, 2020, 09:05 AM
Jan 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Mike Nelson

(9,903 posts)
11. I have not seen these...
Sat Jan 25, 2020, 09:57 PM
Jan 2020

... yet. I would advise sharing Trump memes... "Occupy Democrats" is a site with some great ones!



If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

NCProgressive

(1,315 posts)
14. Anger is all they have left
Sat Jan 25, 2020, 10:09 PM
Jan 2020

The pie in the sky pandering policies - fail
Dirty tricks - fail

All that remains is anger at not getting free stuff

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Docreed2003

(16,817 posts)
15. It's not just FB
Sat Jan 25, 2020, 10:13 PM
Jan 2020

It's instagram and twitter too and it's obnoxious at best and dangerous at worst. I really wish some folks would actually see the danger here instead of "rah rah"-ing for their candidate like it's a damn football game.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

UniteFightBack

(8,231 posts)
19. Yeah it very well may be not just Americans doing that...have we learned nothing? nt
Sat Jan 25, 2020, 10:29 PM
Jan 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

samnsara

(17,570 posts)
27. same ol shit from them..if he cant control his minions..hows he gonna control russia?
Sun Jan 26, 2020, 09:10 AM
Jan 2020

..lack of control isnt what i want in a leader..

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Scurrilous

(38,687 posts)
28. The Democratic electorate on social media is not the Democratic electorate.
Sun Jan 26, 2020, 09:25 AM
Jan 2020

To paraphrase the NY Times. I keep reminding the bros of this when they get full of themselves and think trending equals victory.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Srkdqltr

(6,126 posts)
29. I have been on Facebook since it started
Sun Jan 26, 2020, 09:36 AM
Jan 2020

I have never gotten stuff like that. I think if you get that stuff you are allowing it. I follow Elizabeth Warren. Her stuff is all about her and not about the others, as it should be. Facebook is only weaponized if you allow it.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Stellar

(5,644 posts)
32. I am on Facebook every day, and...
Sun Jan 26, 2020, 10:37 AM
Jan 2020

I'm on a lot of Bernie sites, I've have not seen that kind of crap that WAPO speaks of, not once.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Stellar

(5,644 posts)
31. Those Bernie Bros are So MEAN!
Sun Jan 26, 2020, 10:33 AM
Jan 2020

LMFAO! Please....give me a break, part of the kitchen sink, I presume?


Yeah WAPO, let's spread the hate, just what the party needs to defeat Trump.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

aikoaiko

(34,127 posts)
33. Welcome to the internet WaPo.
Sun Jan 26, 2020, 10:41 AM
Jan 2020


IIUC, he posted the satirical meme on eight groups.

Just eight groups.

This is what they call weaponized?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
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