If only where was a way users could alert mods and admins about suspicious accounts.
Comment on [deleted]
ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 weeks ago
Make sign ups require approval and create a “trusted user” permission level that lets the regulated trusted users on the instance see and process pending sign up requests and suspend/delete brand new spam accounts (say under 24 hours old) that slip through the cracks
Boom, bot problem solved
fizzle@quokk.au 4 weeks ago
ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
Yeah, but that’s after the fact, and after their content has federated to other instances.
It doesn’t solve the bot problem, but just plays whack a mole with them, whilst creating an ever large amount of moderation work, due to it federating to multiple instances.
Solving the bot problem means stopping the content from federating, which either means stopping the bot accounts from registering, or stopping them from federating until they’re known to be legit.
SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Blahaj admins don’t want to do work tho
They would rather ban users who whine about trolls.
FaceDeer@fedia.io 4 weeks ago
Boom, centralized control of the Fediverse established.
Cevilia@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 weeks ago
Only insofar as instance mods are already “centralised control of the Fediverse”.
FaceDeer@fedia.io 4 weeks ago
If this is something that individual instances can opt out of then it doesn't solve the "bot problem."
SorteKanin@feddit.dk 3 weeks ago
It definitely does. You just defederate from the instances that don’t do something to avoid bots.
ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 weeks ago
How do you figure that? There’s nothing centralised about it
FaceDeer@fedia.io 4 weeks ago
How else would this "trusted" status be applied without some kind of central authority or authentication? If one instance declares "this guy's a bot" and another one says "nah, he's fine" how is that resolved? If there's no global resolution then there isn't any difference between this and the existing methods of banning accounts.
ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
I mean, approving users, you just let your regular established users approve instance applications. All they need to do is stop the egregious bots from getting through. And if there is enough of them, the applications will be processed really quickly. If there is any doubt about an application, let them through, because they can be caught afterwards. And historical applications are already visible, and easily checked if someone has a complaint.
And if you don’t like the idea of trusted users being able to moderate new accounts, you can tinker with that idea. Let accounts start posting before their application has been approved, but stop their content from federating outwards until an instance staff member approves them. It would let people post right away without requiring approval, and still get some interaction, but it would mitigate the damage that bots can do, by containing them to a single instance.
My point is, there are options that could be implemented. The status quo of open sign ups, with a growing number of bots doesn’t have to be the unquestioned approach going forward.