How Social Media Bots Helped Fuel Nicki Minaj's MAGA Posts

In recent months, rap queen Nicki Minaj has been making headlines for her enthusiastic support of President Donald Trump and conservative politics. According to a report by Politico, published on Monday (Feb. 23), Minaj's posting sprees on social media, particularly about President Trump and conservative-leaning politics, have been largely amplified by thousands of bots. These bots were identified by the disinformation detection company Cyabra, which compiled an analysis that looked at social media activity from Nov. 11 to Dec. 28.

The report revealed that over 18,000 bots were involved in taking Minaj's MAGA posts on X and elevating them on the platform. This orchestrated effort has captured millions of views online and positioned Minaj as a celebrity endorsed by the White House. Dan Brahmy, the CEO and founder of Cyabra, stated that the majority of the activity came from fake profiles. "We don't really see a lot of high volume, high impact orchestration of bad and fake actors within that intersection of the geopolitically driven and music culture," he said.

Brahmy also noted that they found a plethora of inauthentic accounts repeatedly boosting Minaj's posts with praise that used "highly similar language," particularly in response to posts where verifiable accounts were criticizing the rap queen. This coordinated effort highlights how social media bots can be utilized to spread propaganda and influence public opinion.

This issue is not new, as bot accounts have been a problem on X even before Elon Musk's ownership and subsequent name change from Twitter. However, the current dominance of these accounts suggests there's no real barrier to prevent them from invading a user's timeline with propaganda. Cybersecurity experts emphasize the need for social media platforms to implement more effective measures to detect and remove bot accounts.

In response to the Politico report, Trump media adviser Alex Bruesewitz slammed the findings as unreliable due to Cyabra's alleged relationships with hip-hop personalities who are known enemies of Minaj, specifically Cardi B. He claimed that Minaj did not need bots to promote her on social media and accused Politico's Jason Beeferman of being a "fake news hack" for failing to disclose these relationships.

However, the situation took a turn when Bruesewitz clashed with Cardi B over their dispute about the report. In a series of posts, both Bruesewitz and Cardi B exchanged heated messages regarding the article and Cyabra's findings. The exchange has drawn attention from fans and followers, highlighting the complexities of social media politics.

While the involvement of bots in shaping public opinion is concerning, it's essential to examine the context and motivations behind such efforts. In Minaj's case, her support for Trump and conservative politics may be driven by various factors beyond simply bot amplification. Understanding these dynamics can provide valuable insights into the intersection of music culture and geopolitics.

In conclusion, the Politico report highlights the need for social media platforms to address the issue of bot accounts and their impact on public discourse. As cybersecurity experts continue to monitor this issue, it's crucial to consider the broader implications of social media manipulation and its potential effects on democracy.

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