Sue Archer2d ago

I'm suddenly seeing a lot of bot accounts using the hashtags I use on a regular basis. For example the bio will read

"Follow me if you're interested in the castanwyddeneccles hashtag. I'm a global hashtag sharing bot from tags.pub. When content with the castanwyddeneccles hashtag appears on the Social Web, this account will re-share the content to its followers."

Is this a thing now? I don't think I like it, and I'm blocking them as they pop up.

Show threadJanet
@suearcher I think there’s a few automatic sharing bits on the sewing hashtags too. Not sure I see the point since that is what the hashtag is for..,
Mar 26 at 8:54amWeb
Show threadJanet2d ago
@suearcher bots not bits:- uncomfortable for horses if we muddle them up.
Show threadSue Archer2d ago
@Janet_52square 😂 🐴
Show threadAlfred Chow - Maker of Things2d ago

@Janet_52square @suearcher
I feel like they pull followers into following bots rather than people and # tags. It generates traffic in the wrong direction.

That made sense on Twitter, to make your bot account look popular, but I don't quite see a point to it here.

I block bots when I come across them.

Edit: just wondering if the bots are sharing the # tags across platforms so that Bluesky etc. also see them, and then you have no idea what folks there are doing with your toot.

Show threadticho2d ago

@Maker_of_Things @Janet_52square @suearcher Yes, I'm blocking all of those as well, often their entire instances (since they're usually instances dedicated for these data harvesting bots).

The last one I blocked just this week even had "we respect #nobot tag in your profile!" blurb on their instance page, BUT THEY DIDN'T.

Show threadSue Archer2d ago

@ticho @Maker_of_Things @Janet_52square

Ah I did wonder if I could block the whole instance, I'll try that, thank you.

Show threadticho2d ago
@suearcher @Maker_of_Things @Janet_52square I'm just happy someone else is bothered by these foul practices - until now, it seemed like I was just screaming into the void about it. :)
Show threadjaz  2d ago

@suearcher @ticho @Maker_of_Things @Janet_52square

Apologies, this was me, I was experimenting with the new service and was exploring the relay option. This has now been disabled, your posts will no longer be seen by the hashtag service.

As an aside, you can indeed block the account or the entire service yourself (just like any other account or domain name), but as of this morning the connection is no longer happening so you shouldn't need to.

Show threadAlfred Chow - Maker of Things2d ago

@jaz
Ahhh, ok, thanks for clarifying.

@suearcher @ticho @Janet_52square

Show threadticho2d ago
@jaz @suearcher @Maker_of_Things @Janet_52square Not to worry, there will be another such "service" next week, bottom-feeding on users' data and trying to centralize what is decentralized.
Show threadSue Archer2d ago

@jaz @ticho @Maker_of_Things @Janet_52square

Ah, thank you! Diolch!

Show threadHer Doing2d ago

@Maker_of_Things @Janet_52square @suearcher

I hadn't thought of that. 😬

Show threadSue Archer2d ago

@Janet_52square

Yes, that was my thinking, that the hashtag should be enough.