Politics

70 Percent of Obama’s Twitter Followers Could Be Fake

Last week, Gov. Mitt Romney was called out for amassing 100,000 fake followers on Twitter in one weekend. Now, a more recent report is providing more exact numbers on both candidates’ accounts of what could be fake tweeps.

An analytical tool, for example, found out of President Barack Obama’s nearly 19 million followers, as many as 13 million could be fake.

The New York Times reports analysis supposedly revealing “fake” or “inactive” Twitter accounts comes from the tool Fake Follower Check, which was created by the firm StatusPeople. The Times states that if accurate, the tool shows 70 percent of Obama’s Twitter followers are fake. As for Romney, Mashable points out that although he only has 900,000 followers, 135,000 of them are fakes.

Analysis Shows 70 Percent of Obamas Twitter Followers Could Be Fake or Inactive, 15 Percent of Romneys Are Fake

Obama's Twitter profile screenshot.

Analysis Shows 70 Percent of Obamas Twitter Followers Could Be Fake or Inactive, 15 Percent of Romneys Are Fake

Romney's Twitter profile screenshot.

This isn’t limited to presidential candidates either. Celebrities have fake followers, and The Hill notes that many members of Congress had such followers as well:

Jon Tilton, the general manager for digital marketing firm Advocacy Media, ran a follower check last weekend on every member of Congress using StatusPeople, a tool designed specifically to check for fake followers on Twitter. He found that an average of 38 percent of accounts following representatives on Twitter and 42 percent of those following senators are a combination of fake and inactive accounts.

Although fake followers will not make or break a campaign and constituents might not care about this revelation either, Wendy Schiller, a political science professor at Brown University, told the Associated Press what they will care about is fraud.

“They do care if you’re lying about who supports you,” Schiller said. “Why risk your credibility as a politician by engaging in that?”

Why indeed. The Times reports having a massive number of Twitter followers to one’s handle is a sign of popularity:

“There’s a tremendous cachet associated with having a large number,” said [comedian Dan] Nainan, 31, adding later, “When people see that you have that many followers, they’re like: ‘Oh, my goodness, this guy is popular. I might want to book him.’ ”

It may be the worst-kept secret in the Twittersphere. That friend who brags about having 1,000, even 100,000 Twitter followers may not have earned them through hard work and social networking; he may have simply bought them on the black market.

It’s easy and inexpensive to purchase followers on Twitter. Websites advertise 10,000 Twitter followers for as little as $52. Twitter prohibits the use of such services, as does Facebook, which also prohibits providing false personal information and creating more than one personal account. But a fake name and an email address are enough to get around those prohibitions. Facebook estimates nearly 4 percent of its 950 million users are not actual people. Similar statistics for Twitter are unavailable because it is privately held.

Both Romney and Obama’s camps have denied paying for followers.


The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Comments (78)

1 2 3
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:15pm

    Given how much of Obama’s administration is based on lies, distortions and slander, 70% fakes may be too little of a percentage.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • JRook
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:34pm

      But of course Romney utilizing the same practice is fine. “fake and inactive accounts” One group is very different than the other.

      Report Post »  
    • JRook
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:35pm

      Of course I’m sure both campaigns will now have their Super PACS handle the fake accounts now.

      Report Post »  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:00pm

      JCROOK, Let’s be honest here. I seriously doubt that either 0bama or Romney have anything to do with this either directly or indirectly. Frankly, both are busy on their campaigns, not to mention all of the fund raisers and golf games that 0bama attends. I get the feeling this is done more by hacks like you with nothing else to do from Mom’s basement. And, I mean that for both sides of the coin.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • dianna9490
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:50pm

      Everything involving THE FRAUD IS LIES – Does this really SURPRISE ANYONE? If so then you need to open your eyes and ears because THE FRAUD it’s just getting worse!

      Report Post »  
    • WeDontNeedNoSteenkinBadges12
      Posted on August 25, 2012 at 2:57am

      “70 Percent of Obama’s Twitter Followers Could Be Fake”

      Fake President … fake followers …
      Makes perfect sense.

      Report Post » WeDontNeedNoSteenkinBadges12  
    • DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
      Posted on August 26, 2012 at 8:55am

      Fits the pattern. Everything about this administration and this president is fake, going back to his autobiographies full of lies and exaggerations. Their unemployment numbers, their deportation numbers, their economic numbers, the cost of Obamacare…everything about this administration and this man is a lie and a fraud. I wouldn‘t be surprised one bit if we find out one day he and Moochelle had a fraud marriage and their two kids aren’t even his.

      Report Post » DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL  
  • Bohump
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:10pm

    So what ?.. Every thing about him is Fake!

    Report Post »  
  • captainaubrey
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:00pm

    And 70 percent of blaze readers could be idiots! See how stories like this work?

    Report Post » captainaubrey  
  • Libfreezone
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:58pm

    As long as fake followers don’t vote…I don’t care. They can Tweet themselves all day long.

    Report Post » Libfreezone  
  • walnutportconservative
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:52pm

    What’s twitter?

    Report Post »  
  • thekuligs
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:38pm

    I have a few thousand twitter followers, but the number of crap accounts out there is really high for most people who have more than a handful. Only who cares? If someone votes for him based off of how many Twitter followers he has they are untrainable idiots anyway.

    Report Post » thekuligs  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on August 26, 2012 at 7:30pm

      Apparently untrained idiots got him elected in the first lace…

      Report Post » Stoic one  
  • BryanB
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:37pm

    There are Web-Sites dedicated to do nothing but post on Blogs for a Political Cause.

    They even post on the Blaze………

    Report Post » BryanB  
  • CodexMan
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:31pm

    Guess I would have to call Obama an Un-American twit who does not give a toot if he destroys America or not.

    Report Post »  
  • huey6367
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:29pm

    Attention whores do everything they can to make themselves seem more important thatn they are. Sorry Mitt but I call it as I see it.

    Honestly, Obama has 18.8 million followers? I know of not one person that would follow him out of a burning building.

    Now we need a “breaking” story about how the polls are manipulated.

    Report Post »  
  • JustPeachy
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:28pm

    It’s the old “popularity,“ ”celebrity” etc. mentality that some (if not most!) politicians seem to have. I think they not only want to create an aura of popularity (obviously), but it likely also helps stroke their own egos (even if they know they’re fake followers).

    But it sure does explain too the posters on many boards, blogs, etc. – who likely post under multiple names, accounts, etc. to try to make “their guy” look more supported than he actually is.

    Too bad people have to build up fake popularity, won’t just let the truth be known and let the chips fall wherever they may.

    But the real evidence should show on election day – at least to some extent. We all know some of that is FRAUD, too (aka “cheating”).

    Report Post » JustPeachy  
  • johnpaulkuchtajr
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:28pm

    I’m simply flabbergasted!

    Fakery in the Obama campaign? I simply refuse to believe that the Ayatollah Obama would do anything underhanded.

    That’s just not the sort of thing that he learned from Richard Daley.

    This is simply a fabrication of the vast right wing conspiracy. No, wait, that was Hillbilly Hillary. Forget that I even brought it up.

    Report Post »  
  • LiveFreeOrDie86
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:26pm

    He’s lied about everything else, I don’t see how anyone could be surprised. And cmon, twitter followers? Irrelevant.

    Report Post » LiveFreeOrDie86  
  • doomytram
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:25pm

    70% of the Living Breathing Citizens of the Country with a functioning brain couldn’t, wouldn’t, and shouldn’t even consider re-electing this commie Obozo.

    However, we all know that because of Eric Ronald McDonald Holder, the disinformation campaign of the left, and dead and alive citizens and non citizens along with massive voter fraud. Romney will only beat Obozo by a vote or two.

    Report Post » doomytram  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:21pm

      You forgot the animated and felonious citizens. Wouldn’t want to stop Charlie Manson or Bugs Bunny from voting, now.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • eaglesview
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:23pm

    Why wouldn’t his Twitter followers be fake ?.
    Fake girlfriends in his book, fake presentation of his beliefs during the 08 race, fake concern for the so called middle class, etc etc.
    The man as a whole is a fake, or better put, he’s a walking, talking LIE !

    Report Post »  
    • Zipit
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:06pm

      Whether or not they’re real or fake,,,,,,, they’re still FAKES!

      Report Post »  
  • myway
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:22pm

    Twitter write me all the time and I don’t have an account. Who cares?

    Report Post » myway  
  • momrules
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:18pm

    I don’t tweet but I had no idea that you could buy fake tweeters. Just another reason not to believe anything you can‘t verify yourself or that you don’t see yourself. I am to the point that I trust very few people and never a politician.

    Report Post »  
  • AvengerK
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:18pm

    Well to be accurate….70% of the names among those 70% are WANGO/ENCINOM/MONICNE/SLEAZY HIPPO/HORSEDANCER. He likes to create lots of different identities for himself on every online forum he goes to.

    Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:29pm

      It is bizzare that he/she/it does that. What is he/she/it’s motivation for multiple identities AK, any idea?

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • beckwasfox
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:46pm

      It probably assumes the identity of it’s meals in much the same way Jeffrey Dahmer or John Wayne Gacy would have if the internet had been more widely in use in their day.

      Report Post » beckwasfox  
    • Wango
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:55pm

      AVENGEZO . . .

      You’ve got me under your skin
      you’ve got me deep in the heart of you
      So deep in your heart that I’m nearly a part of you.
      you’ve got me under your skin.

      Come on, fellas, at least make it a challenge.

      Report Post » Wango  
    • DRsnapper
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:41pm

      gonzo did you know that you are living in WANGOS head RENT FREE dont slip on obamas tong

      Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:48pm

      GONZO..I think from his point of view..conservatives deserve no better. It’s his liberal conceit and elitism. From a psychological standpoint it‘s clearly the expression of an angry and unstable mind that’s frustrated when the objects of his anger get the better of him. So rather than “man up” he just creates a new name, a new personality and he believes he can start anew.

      Notice all he does is post insults? Rarely if ever will WHACKO/MONICNE/HORSE DANCER/SLEAZY HIPPO post a serious post. Again..conservatives deserve no better in his eyes.

      I’ve seen WHACKO/MONICNE offer unsourced quotes trying to play “gotcha” with readers. They’re from conservatives but they appear (when taken out of context) to be by liberals. This is the kind of duplicity and contempt WHACKO operates under. Games.

      In his elitist mind, conservatives deserve it, they deserve to be tricked and mocked. And part of the mockery is to use multiple names. On the surface it’s his way of showing conempt to conservatives. Deep down it’s a disturbing facet of his personality. It demonstrates a real spite and anger.

      My guess is that WHACKO has been convinced throughout most of his life that conservatives are “bad”, “evil” and “stupid. That they lack “compassion”..etc. Also the fact that many conservatives are religious grates on his elitist sensibilities. Obama echoed the same with his “god, guns and bigots” comment infront of a fundraiser full of San Francisco l

      Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:06pm

      Watch this GONZO…

      Repeatedly I‘ve asked WHACKO to defend Obama’s adding $6 trillion to the debt when he said he’d halve the debt by the end of his first term. You know WHACO believed him when he said it too. That unemployment wouldn’t go over 8% if he passed his porkulus when in fact it’s remained over 8% throughout his entire tenure. That the underemployment rate is the hightest since WWII..there are literally less Americans working today then when Obama took office. In fact..Obama hasn’t even recouped the jobs lost in 2008/2009. The slowest recovery from a recession in the history of the nation.
      WHACKO wants the country to re-elect Obama in the face of these obvious failures yet he cannot defend them when asked to. He resorts to insults time and time again in lieu of a defense.

      Report Post »  
    • Wango
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 4:36pm

      Boys, Boys, Boys . . . I’m flattered.

      “Notice all he does is post insults? Rarely if ever will WHACKO/MONICNE/HORSE DANCER/SLEAZY HIPPO post a serious post.”

      I would but I’m kept quite busy reading this stuff.

      GONZO
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 8:33am
      How would you like to be Cooper’s husband? Double ouch!

      GONZO
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 10:06am
      I had heard about that R.J., Now it‘s Shepard Smith’s turn.

      GONZO
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 8:34am
      She even has Miss Piggie’s hair!

      AVENGERK
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:14pm
      If you stand next to Debbie does DC Wasserman Schultz and listen carefully..you can hear the ocean.

      I would have posted more from you AVENGECAKE but virtually all of your posts are about me.

      I’ll give you this though, fellas, you make a terrific example. Very generous of you. Warning to you GONZO – don’t let AVENGECAKE drag you down. I gave him fair warning earlier – keep it interesting and provocative. I‘m a busy retiree on a fixed income and I don’t have time for amateurs.

      By the way, I’ve only been HorseDancer in your ever evolving list. (So I’m not the ONLY honest person on this board.) Got banned. Had to change. That’s conservatives for ya – hatin’ on the free speech.

      So, next time you try to actually add something to the discussion, be sure to press “forward” and not “rewhine.”

      Report Post » Wango  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 5:25pm

      And there you go GONZO…All WHACKO/MONICNE/SLEAZY HIPPO/HORSEDANCER can do is duck, deflect and insult. The clownshoes won‘t even attempt to defend Obama’s abysmal record (apparently it’s beneath the elitist dolt to defend $6trillion in new debt and an 8% and above unemployment rate throughout Obama‘s entire tenure after Obama said he’d halve the deficit and keep unemployment below 8%)… yet he demands the whole country should fall into line and re-elect the do-nothing incompetent just the same. Nah..we dont’ deserve an answer to such a mundane things as chronic unemployment and $6trillion added debt. “Give me something interesting”..demands WHACKO/MONICNE/HORSEDANCER in true liberal idiot style.

      Like I said..elitism and contempt..that’s all that comes out of WHACKO/MONICNE/SLEAZY HIPPO/HORSEDANCER. You even tell the idiot you’re onto his deceptions and he still denies it.
      It doesn’t get more pitiful and predictable than WHACKO/MONICNE/HORSEDANCER.

      Don’t you love the latest deflection by the way? It’s just not interesting enough for WHACKO/MONICNE/HORSEDANCER to respond to these facts about Obama’s failure. But the dullard is interested enough apparently to attempt to cover for his other screennames in a moment of panic and despair…LOL.

      Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 5:47pm

      Yes of course WINGNUT-O…you’ve only been HORSEDANCER and you got banned. so now you’re WHACKO….riiiight.

      I’ve personally seen both your WHACKO and MONICNE screennames put up unsourced quotes that were deliberately edited to appear to be by liberal speakers (because you offered them unsourced and out of context) but were actually from conservatives, in order to fool readers so that you could return later (in any one of your many names) to mock and insult. Yes…just a coincidence that “both” of you use the same tactic on the same boards….of course.

      Contrary to your flatulent demands WHACKO, your posts are neither interesting nor provocative..they’re simply the juvenile games of a liberal dullard and a creep. Your demands to keep it “interesting and provocative” are flaccid and ineffectual you cretin. You do nothing but persist in hurling drive-by insults and you offer nothing resembling intelligent or provocative exchange. Your entire existence here is based on subterfuge, insults and mockery.
      Can you at least try to lie convincingly if nothing else?

      Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 6:19pm

      LOL…love the “I’m a busy retiree” line WHACKO/MONICNE. So busy in fact that you’re on these boards every day..all day.
      Honestly champ…have you lost track of all your imaginary lives that you can’t even get their lies straight now?

      Report Post »  
    • Wango
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 7:19pm

      AVENGECAKE . . . Brother, you’re just beside yourself. Take a Xanax and a quick shot of Cabo Wabo. You’ll thank me for it.

      Did I post a Paul Ryan quote? Yep. And he was extolling the virtues of stimulus spending – how we have to help people with unemployment and heath care and use government to stimulate job growth. EXACTLY the same position of Obama and Democrats. Were you aware that Ryan made such comments? No. But I knew. And I used it to lure knee-jerk right wing extremists into criticizing the hypocrisy of their standard bearers. I won. I predicted and exploited their responses to make them look shallow, arbitrary, hypocritical and foolish. It wasn‘t the first time and it won’t be the last.

      And all you can do is whine about it. “You tricked us!” The fact that I‘m not the only one able to tweak your noses like this proves only that you’re consistently gullible. Heck, I‘ve seen Sean Hannity do the same thing and he’s a certified cretin, and yet you all fall for it. Not my fault. and don’t take it so personally. I’m only doing it for my entertainment. I don’t care about you. You know that, right?

      Here’s a question for your to defend. Was Ryan lying in 2002 or now? Why won’t you answer? Where’s my answer? Where’s your defense? You can’t answer. You afraid to answer. (You see how childish you sound? It’s really getting pathetic. Piece of advice: I’m just gonna keep opening those cuts I left over your eyes. Don‘t say I didn’t warn ya.)

      Report Post » Wango  
  • 13th Imam
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:15pm

    Bout the same percentage of living legal DEMOCRAT voters

    Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • copatriots
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:12pm

    I have no doubt 0′s followers are 70% fake. They have no soul.

    Report Post »  
  • sWamby
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:10pm

    Slightly higher than the number of fake (illegal) donors, and almost double that of the number of fake voters (illegals/dead/multiples).

    Report Post »  
  • watashbuddyfriend
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:08pm

    No doubt about!

    Report Post »  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:08pm

    And the other thirty % are illegal aliens on welfare, and inner city FOODSTAMPERS……….

    Report Post »  
  • woodyee
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:07pm

    waddayamean up to 70% of Gaybama’s twitter followers could be fake?!?

    When it comes to his administration, it is 100% FULL of fake pro-American patriots!

    What percentage of the MSM is Constitutionally vigilant?

    Report Post » woodyee  
  • MikeinIdaho
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:04pm

    Gee whiz, Wally! It’s just like real life, huh?
    Fake followers on Twitter and fake poll results by Obama’s lackeys in the media!
    Whodathunk!

    Report Post » MikeinIdaho  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:04pm

    …and the other 30% are clinically brain dead.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
1 2 3

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love