Parody account
A number of world leaders began congratulating Trump as quickly as information of his victory broke. They included Jonathan, who congratulated Trump on X. In response, the X account with the deal with @TrumpRDonald2 (and the identify Donald Trump Campaign Updates) thanked Jonathan and said Trump would restore electoral integrity in Nigeria and Africa.
We discovered Trump’s official X account and in contrast it to the one which responded to Jonathan.
The account in query has fewer followers – simply over 2,600 – in comparison with Trump’s official account, which has over 94 million followers. That’s a pink flag.
When Trump received the 2016 elections, he already had an X (then Twitter) account. We discovered it unusual that the account in query solely joined the platform in Might 2022.
The suspicious account doesn’t point out that it’s a parody. This can be a violation of X’s rules. Parody accounts are allowed on the platform, so long as they’re clearly labelled as such.
“To keep away from complicated others about an account’s affiliation, parody, commentary, and fan accounts should distinguish themselves of their account identify and of their bio,” the foundations state.
A search of Trump’s official account additionally exhibits no such assertion.
Though the suspicious account is verified, all indicators point out it’s a parody. The verification mark simply signifies that the account has an lively subscription to X Premium.
Parody is supposed to poke enjoyable at political and different opponents. However when it’s shared as reality, it turns into disinformation.
Figuring out parody accounts
Figuring out parody accounts on social media will be difficult, particularly on a platform like X, the place customers can get verified and pose as well-known folks.
Listed here are particulars to look out for to distinguish between legit and parody accounts:
- Username: Parody accounts have a tendency to make use of variations of the goal account’s username, reminiscent of including an additional character, quantity or rearrangement. On this case, the parody account makes use of @TrumpRDonald2, in comparison with Trump’s official account @realDonaldTrump
- Profile image and bio: Parody accounts typically pose as well-known folks, so they might use precise photographs of these folks or logos of manufacturers. On this occasion, the account makes use of the identical picture because the one on Trump’s official account. Some customers point out that the account is a parody, whereas others do not, as with the Trump parody account.
- Follower rely: Official accounts are inclined to have many followers, whereas parody accounts could have considerably fewer, though this is not all the time the case. Trump’s official account has a staggering 94 million followers, in comparison with the parody’s few thousand.
- Cross-referencing: Official accounts are sometimes constant throughout platforms, and that is the case with Trump’s official accounts on both X and Facebook. Each accounts characteristic most of the identical posts. Discrepancies throughout platforms could point out a parody account. As an illustration, evaluating the X parody account to Trump’s Facebook page would reveal main variations.
The identical screenshot was discovered here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
