Thread by @gauravsabnis

Btw this really made me happy because it means my #FactCheckBait awareness campaign isn't just me screaming at clouds. It directly hits how their targets are counted and how they are paid.

Long way to go. Even now mutuals RTing sanghi bait. But it's a start.

https://twitter.com/gauravsabnis/status/1369959655338868737

So yes, I'm going to keep trying to politely and firmly keep reminding people that you can ridicule and infuriate fascists and also hurt them by not RTing. Like ok, we all want to ridicule Haggi. Do you really have to QT tweets praising him and help them get paid?

How NOT to ridicule Haggi? QT this tweet and add your ridicule. Or screenshot in ways that the handle or hashtags are visible. That's how they get paid.

How to ridicule Haggi? Crop this and say "Haggi public mein hag raha hai kya? 🤣🤣🤣"

What does that tweet above do and not do?

Does - ridicule Haggi to whoever reads my tweets

Does not
- Add to Haggi's social media team's KPIs in any way. They get paid by visibility, engagement, and exposure. I'm not even using Haggi's actual name.

Cut off their paychecks.

You see these numbers? This is literally how the bhakt troll army gets paid. There are bonuses and incentives with more detailed metrics. But basically this is it. So when you RT or QT or even name the handle angrily, they are like, thank you.

You use cropping smartly and you can ridicule and lambast any sanghi you like without contributing to these numbers. If they don't get paid for it, then the IT cell army will see desertions. Only your angry uncle aunties from whatsapp will be here. They're not as good at SM.

Two objective facts are the Indian economy has stalled under Modi and we have more unemployed young people than any other country. They need to make a living. A reliable way is to work for the IT Cell, even if you personally don't believe in the sanghi ideology.

So a vast majority of the coordinated sanghi social media trolling is posted by young unemployed people just trying to pay rent and buy food. And they are measured by their engagement and impression numbers.

When you QT them, you perpetuate this horrific ecosystem. Don't.

And of course, many of them start off doing it just for money or personal benefit. But then really buy into it even after they stop getting paid or drive other benefits. Humans always want to reduce cognitive dissonance. And that's how sanghi numbers grow.

Great question. A screenshot is less worse for sure. But if it shows the ID or hashtag, someone sympathetic to fascism can still easily search and follow them. They can then show increased following or hashtag numbers to get paid.

https://twitter.com/just1doctorwala/status/1369972676337410054?s=19

You don't even have to be sympathetic to fascism. Many people will just search and check out the ID or hashtags out of sheer curiosity. I know I have. And that still contributes to their twitter analytics.