How to do it:

The reporting tactics vary, but most platforms have a way to report malign content, and they all have ways to block it. We’re working on teaching the algorithm pattern recognition: if enough people report a fake account, it gets reviewed. If enough people flag particular kinds of content, it gets extra scrutiny. The right has weaponized this to attack legitimate content: we’re going to use it to clean things up a bit.

Any time you encounter a fake account, first report it as fake and then block it.

If you see a violent or hateful comment, report the comment, then go to the poster’s wall. There’s a good chance you’ll find more hateful content. If you do, report several posts and then block the profile so you aren’t served more of their content.

If you’ve already cleaned your feed but want to take out the trash, go to any controversial post (hint: anything mentioning transgender or Jewish people is guaranteed to have trolls unless the wall actively monitors) and look for threatening language, slurs, or trolls. Report the comment and then visit the poster’s wall to see if it’s a pattern.

Should you engage?

Only engage if you are fairly confident the account is a real person who is sincere in their confusion, and you see an opportunity to share facts passerbys may learn from. For example: you see a false claim about trans girls playing sports. You know the information is not true, and the account looks real. By all means leave a response with a link to research.

Never engage with “shit posters” or fake accounts. Interacting gives them exactly what they want: reach. Instead, report and block. If you DO engage with that kind of account for some reason (e.g. to let others know it is fake) immediately block it to avoid bringing swarms of hostile accounts back to your own wall.