Russia’s army of online trolls seemed powerful after claims they may have helped Donald Trump win the presidency in 2016. But nearly eight years later, that troll army is struggling in the trenches of Russia’s war on Ukraine as it tries — and fails— to trick the world into buying …
Read More »HBO CEO Confesses to Trolling Critics With Fake Tweets After Rolling Stone Exposé
HBO CEO Casey Bloys apologized Thursday to a room of journalists following a Rolling Stone report that he instructed staffers to create fake social media accounts to troll TV critics who gave poor reviews to HBO shows. During a press event Thursday to unveil HBO and Max’s programming slate for …
Read More »HBO Bosses Used 'Secret' Fake Accounts to Troll TV Critics
I n June 2020, Casey Bloys, HBO’s then-president of original programming, needed someone to “go on a mission.” Bloys—who was named HBO’s CEO and chairman in October 2022 — was irked by a tweet from Vulture TV critic Kathryn VanArendonk, who had some thoughts about Perry Mason, HBO’s series starring …
Read More »TikTok's Nonsense 'Bone-Smashing' Trend Began as an Incel Troll Joke
Skin care tutorials, fashion channels, and exercise influencers — when it comes to enhancing your appearance, TikTok is bursting with advice. Much of it should be taken with a grain of salt, but more often than not, there’s a trend taking off that prompts greater concern. In recent weeks, a …
Read More »'In the Fire' Director Was Blown Away by Amber Heard: 'A Fearless Truth-Teller'
Demonic possession is all the rage in Hollywood. This year alone, we’ve been haunted by Huesera: The Bone Woman, Attachment, Evil Dead Rise, Talk to Me, It Lives Inside, Run Rabbit Run, and The Nun II. Hell, they even rebooted The Exorcist with Ellen Burstyn and cast none other than …
Read More »Douglass Mackey Found Guilty of Violating Rights With 2016 Memes Telling Hillary Fans to Vote By Text
A jury has found former internet troll Douglass Mackey guilty of violating people’s constitutional right to vote by disseminating memes encouraging Democrats to vote via text in the 2016 election. The decision comes after more than four days of deliberations. During the two-week trial, the prosecution presented testimony by MicroChip, …
Read More »After Far-Right Harassment, Trans People Are Fighting to Keep Their Health Care
For trans children, finding a community of peers is challenging. That’s why Maya, whose name has been changed to protect her family, was thrilled this past spring when she and her nine-year-old son were able to join a carefully vetted children’s group through the Gender Development Program at Lurie Children’s …
Read More »Grimes Goes Creationist, Stealing Elon Musk's Troll Thunder
Ever since tech magnate and inveterate poster Elon Musk was dragged into a lawsuit by Twitter for attempting to back out of a $44 billion deal to purchase the social media company, his personal account has been in something of a flop era. It’s a tricky thing to quantify — …
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