From Automated Programs to Insult: The Evolution of the Term ‘Bot’ on Social Media Platforms

According to a study conducted by the Leibniz Institute of Social Sciences in Cologne, the use of the word ‘bot’ on social networks has undergone a significant transformation. Originally, ‘bot’ referred to automated programs that performed repetitive tasks on social media platforms. These bots were capable of generating fake activity such as likes, comments, following other accounts, or sending spam.

However, over time, the term ‘bot’ has evolved into an insult directed towards other users, especially on social network X (formerly Twitter). The study analyzed over 22 million English publications on Twitter from 2007 to December 2022 and found that the term ‘bot’ has shifted from its technical meaning to an insult. Users now use ‘bot’ as a way to dehumanize and insult others on social media.

Social networks like X are taking steps to combat the use of bots by implementing rules against platform manipulation and spam. Users found violating these rules may have their accounts deleted. Additionally, X is considering offering a small fee to new users for publishing and interacting on the platform.

Left-wing users are more likely to accuse others of being ‘bots,’ while right-wing users are often accused of using bot accounts. The study did not determine the exact reasons for this change in perception of ‘bot’ among X users. However, it is clear that the term has taken on a negative connotation and is used as an insult towards others rather than referring to automated programs.