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yesterday

Study Finds Inauthentic Network Drove Taylor Swift ‘Nazi’ and MAGA Smears

Researchers say bot-like accounts seeded false claims to bait authentic users, boosting their reach.

© Sergii Figurnyi
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The report also found overlap between accounts pushing anti-Swift narratives and those involved in a separate smear campaign targeting Blake lively.
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Overview

  • Behavioral intelligence firm GUDEA analyzed more than 24,000 posts from over 18,000 accounts across 14 platforms in the two weeks after The Life of a Showgirl was released.
  • Just 3.77% of accounts drove 28% of the conversation and pushed the most inflammatory narratives, according to the report shared with Rolling Stone.
  • Two surges were identified: Oct. 6–7 with roughly 35% bot-like activity, and Oct. 13–14 after a merch drop with about 40% inauthentic posts as conspiracist content rose to 73.9% of conversation.
  • False claims that lyrics and a lightning‑bolt necklace signaled Nazi or ‘trad’ leanings began on fringe forums such as 4chan and KiwiFarms before spreading on mainstream apps as users tried to debunk them.
  • GUDEA found significant overlap with accounts tied to a separate campaign against Blake Lively, while the operators and motives of the network remain unconfirmed.