Eric Schwartzman on Bot Farms and Digital Deception
From FIR Interviews by FIR Interviews
May 21, 2025 · 42 min
About this episode
Eric Schwartzman discusses the impact of bot farms on social media and public perception.
In this FIR Interview, Neville and Shel talk with author, investigative journalist, and New York SEO, Eric Schwartzman, about his Fast Company article, " Bot farms invade social media to hijack popular sentiment. " A consultant who specialises in SEO for financial services companies, Eric explains how coordinated networks of smartphones and AI-generated content are distorting public perception, manipulating virality, and reshaping what we trust online. Eric, a long-time friend of FIR and a former entertainment public relations correspondent for FIR, discusses how bot farms now outnumber real users on social networks, how profits drive PR ethics, and why Meta, TikTok, X, and even LinkedIn are complicit in enabling synthetic engagement at scale. Eric also previews his forthcoming book, Invasion of the Bot Farms , which explores this escalating threat through insider stories and case studies. Continue Reading → The post Eric Schwartzman on Bot Farms and Digital Deception appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .
People in this episode
Guest: Eric Schwartzman
Topics covered
- bot farms
- digital deception
- social media
- public perception
- SEO
Keywords
- AI-generated content
- virality
- synthetic engagement
- Meta
- TikTok
- X
Mentioned in this episode
Products: Invasion of the Bot Farms
Books & works: Invasion of the Bot Farms
Places: New York
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