conv.

All stories
PoliticsActive · 44h

NYT: Paid creators flood social media with political content before midterms

A New York Times investigation finds a low-cost network of paid creators mass-producing political videos that shape online conversation ahead of the midterms.

newest coverage 19h agosummary written 1d ago11 pieces12 likes & upvotes MastodonNewswires

What to know

  • A New York Times investigation identifies a network of paid, lower-profile creators (distinct from celebrity influencers) mass-producing political video content.
  • The reporting says this content is produced far more cheaply than traditional online campaign ads and is shifting public conversation ahead of the midterms.
  • The story was distributed across multiple NYT verticals and syndication feeds (Flipboard/Mastodon) on the same day, indicating wide internal promotion but limited independent public reaction so far.

Ken Bensinger NYT reporter, co-author of the investigationStuart A. Thompson NYT reporter, co-author of the investigationPaid content creators Subjects of the investigation

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 8 pieces in one hour at Sep 22, 11 AM; 11 pieces over 45 hours (7 articles · 4 posts) Sep 22, 11 AM — 8 pieces · 6 articles · 2 posts — Newswires 5, Mastodon 3Sep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — 2 pieces · 2 posts — Mastodon 2Yesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quiet 1
4 PMyesterday8 AM4 PMnow · 8:10 AM ET
  1. 1

    NYT reports paid creators mass-producing political content

    The New York Times publishes an investigation describing an 'army' of paid creators generating high volumes of political videos across platforms at low cost, in contrast to celebrity influencers with large followings, and says the effort is shifting online political conversation ahead of the midterms.

    “Unlike celebrity influencers with large followings, these creators produce a blizzard of videos for a fraction of the cost of traditional online campaigns and, in the process, shift public conversation.”
    — The New York Times

    1. 2 outlets first by Boston Globe, 1d ago · also NYT · read ↗

    • "This is digital astroturfing, plain & simple. The more people see an idea online, the more inured to it they become & the more commonplace & acceptable it becomes.”

      newslitproject@threads.netMastodon19h ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗