As the presidential election draws nearer, the spread of bogus information online is getting a huge boost from social media accounts that have been created anonymously.

The reposts and expressions of shock from public figures followed quickly after a user on the social platform X who uses a pseudonym claimed that a government website had revealed “skyrocketing” rates of voters registering without a photo ID in three states this year — two of them crucial to the presidential contest.

“Extremely concerning,” X owner Elon Musk replied twice to the post this past week.

“Are migrants registering to vote using SSN?” Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, an ally of former President Donald Trump, asked on Instagram, using the acronym for Social Security number.

Trump himself posted to his own social platform within hours to ask, “Who are all those voters registering without a Photo ID in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Arizona??? What is going on???”

…

Yet by the time they tried to correct the record, the false claim had spread widely. In three days, the pseudonymous user’s claim amassed more than 63 million views on X, according to the platform’s metrics. A thorough explanation from Richer attracted a fraction of that, reaching 2.4 million users.

The incident sheds light on how social media accounts that shield the identities of the people or groups behind them through clever slogans and cartoon avatars have come to dominate right-wing political discussion online even as they spread false information.

  • lennybird@lemmy.worldEnglish
    56·
    8 months ago

    Maybe you should’ve run for office yourself? Perhaps you should’ve primaried harder? Don’t be upset that the nation chose Joe Biden; welcome to Democracy, or “are you unfamiliar with how US elections work?” How silly.

    I say again: your not voting still runs the risk — even in a blue state — that could possibly turn red in lieu of your own laziness and end up promoting the candidate who commits MORE genocide. How is that better for your conscience, again…? You still have yet to directly answer conveniently.

    Facts:

    • Either Trump or Biden will become President after November.
    • Trump will be worse NOT JUST for Palestinians, but also Ukrainians, and domestic civil liberties including women’s rights.
    • Under a comparartive, logical choice, it stands to reason that to minimize the most damage to other people and our own country that we should probably take the lesser poison.
    • gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      56·
      8 months ago

      Maybe you should’ve run for office yourself?

      Ah, yes, I’ll just run for an office that requires I be at least 7 years older than I currently am. Then, surely, I’d have better choices. Do you really not get how shit of a point that is?

      Perhaps you should’ve primaried harder?

      As if the DNC was going to not nom Biden, lol

      I say again: your not voting still runs the risk

      Nope. If you actually think CA will turn red then you’re MORE delusional than the MAGAts.

      Approaching MAGA levels of reality denial to try and push the fault onto voters here buddy.

      You still have yet to directly answer conveniently.

      I have, you just want to live in a black and white reality.

      I assume you live somewhere you actually have to vote for Biden and are just incredibly upset that there are people out there who dont have to hold their nose and vote for him. Sucks for you

      • lennybird@lemmy.worldEnglish
        55·
        8 months ago

        If your vote doesn’t matter, why did you start out bitching about choosing not to vote for genocide, only to backpedal when I cornered you in the fact that one candidate would certainly commit MORE genocide? Your argument is senseless and a blatant attempt at moving the goalpost.

        Regardless I’ve made my case and believe any reasonable bystander to this conversation can see it plainly.

        If it doesn’t concern you, and you’re not voting anyway, then perhaps just stay in your lane. Meanwhile learn how US elections work. The bIG baD dNc doesn’t just unilaterally appoint Biden lmao.

        • gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
          56·
          8 months ago

          why did you start out bitching about choosing not to vote for genocide

          Because people like you insist we need to vote no matter what?

          only to backpedal

          Never backpedaled, your reading comprehension is trash.

          when I cornered you in the fact that one candidate would certainly commit MORE genocide

          You mean when you brought up an irrelevant point? Trump doing more genocide is irrelevant to me as California ain’t gonna give our 55 to him. You’re really struggling with this basic concept.

          Regardless I’ve made my case and believe any reasonable bystander to this conversation can see it plainly.

          If it makes you feel better to think that, go ahead.

          perhaps just stay in your lane

          The US is my lane, dipshit. Just because you don’t like my choice doesn’t mean it’s not a valid choice. Fuck authoritarian cunts like you.

          Meanwhile learn how US elections work

          Repeating my insult to you is weak form. Just because I shorthanded something to “DNC chooses” doesn’t mean they unilaterally do everything. You know that, but want to paint me as a moron so you can feel better about yourself

          I say again: fuck you and every authoritiarian who wants to try to force a vote on other people.

          • lennybird@lemmy.worldEnglish
            55·
            8 months ago

            If it doesn’t matter to you and Biden will still win in your state, then pro-tip, just don’t comment?

            For you’ve got fundamentally zero argument whatsoever to the stated facts:

            Facts:

            • Either Trump or Biden will become President after November.
            • Trump will be worse NOT JUST for Palestinians, but also Ukrainians, and domestic civil liberties including women’s rights.
            • Under a comparative, logical choice, it stands to reason that to minimize the most damage to other people and our own country that we should probably take the lesser poison.

            Hopefully by your 30s you learn the fundamentals of US elections and that the DNC doesn’t just unilaterally appoint Biden, hahahah!

            This guy, trying so hard to get the guy who will commit MORE genocide elected hahahah… Good thinking, buddy!

            • gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
              45·
              8 months ago

              If it doesn’t matter to you and Biden will still win in your state, then pro-tip, just don’t comment?

              Like I said, it’s funny to watch authoritarian assholes get bent out of shape. I can comment if I want, you’re the one that’s gotta deal.

              For you’ve got fundamentally zero argument whatsoever to the stated facts:

              Probably because they’re irrelevant to the point being made. Haven’t read em yet, let’s see:

              Either Trump or Biden will become President after November.

              Yup, irrelevant

              Trump will be worse NOT JUST for Palestinians, but also Ukrainians, and domestic civil liberties including women’s rights.

              Yup, still has nothing to do with what we were talking about.

              Under a comparartive, logical choice, it stands to reason that to minimize the most damage to other people and our own country that we should probably take the lesser poison.

              And again, not relevant. Wow, 3/3!

              Hopefully by your 30s you learn the fundamentals of US elections and that the DNC doesn’t just unilaterally appoint Biden, hahahah!

              Ok so you literally can’t read. Thought so.

              This guy, trying so hard to get the guy who will commit MORE genocide elected

              See? Your default assumption is wrong so you rant and rave about shit that’s just not true. But go off on one you insane fuck

              • lennybird@lemmy.worldEnglish
                44·
                8 months ago

                Oh my, if those are irrelevant to you then your reading-comprehension is worse than I feared. Okay, buddy just stay in school a little longer and maybe we can go from there.