Although this is a rapidly-growing problem, researchers, tech companies, journalists, and politicians are working to provide solutions. Many of the steps you can take to protect yourself will feel familiar, because in many cases, bot farms aren't doing anything new, they are just doing the same things more efficiently.
comparitech.com offers some great advice on keeping you and your data safe:
Spambots are likely to impersonate people and brands. It's unlikely your favorite musician is really sending you a friend request or dm, and if a company is advertising their product to you at a 90% discount, it's probably too good to be true.
This is becoming easier as many apps and websites integrate facial and fingerprint recognition as an added security measure. Two-factor authentication should also be used when available.
Just like the manual spammers of the past, bots use email, social media, and websites to distrubute phishing links and malware. Make sure you verify the sender, account, or website as legitimate before clicking on anything or providing any personal information.
Regular updates provide security updates, patches, and bug fixes that help protect your devices from the latest scams.
If you must use an unsecured public network, use a VPN for an added layer of protection.
Regularly checking the privacy settings on your social media accounts and limiting who can see your posts or send you direct messages can significantly reduce your exposure to bots that are scamming or harvesting data.
Some shady browser extensions may include bot-like behavior, stealing data or injecting ads. You should only install browser extensions from trusted developers via official stores, and review their permissions.
If any spam messages make it to your regular inbox, don't click on messages from unknown sources, and consider blocking senders you don't recognize
This might feel like a futile endeavor, but reporting suspicious activity can help companies detect and shut down bot networks, protecting you and other users from harmful scams.
Taking the steps listed above is a great start in fighting the harm perpetuated by bad bots, but not all bots are harvesting information. Some are spreading it. It can be difficult to keep up with the onslaught of news these days, especially if you are active on social media platforms. News stories can spread like wildfire online, regardless of their accuracy, so it's a good idea to invest in your own media literacy. It's important to take time to verify the facts when you run across a news story online. Checking multiple sources is one way to ensure you don't fall for a viral lie that's made it onto your feed.
Organizations like Media Literacy Now (MLN) are advocating for media literacy to be taught in schools across America. MLN also provides resources for learning and teaching about media literacy, as well as specific guides centered on topics like AI. The MLN website does provide opportunities for visitors to donate to their cause, but their literacy guides are provided at no cost.
A great (paid) resource is Ground News, a website that allows subscribers to compare the same news story across multiple sources. Ground News also ranks news stories based on Bias and Factuality and also provides information about the ownership of publications, increasing transparency and adding context to the stories we read.
The most important thing to remember is that the World Wide Web is just a tool, and like any other tool, it can be used for good or bad. If social media helps you stay connected with friends across the world, cultivate those connections! If you find yourself doomscrolling for hours on end, feeling hopeless and alone, it might be a good idea to log off for a while and reconnect with the real world, so-to-speak. Meet a friend for coffee, read that book that's been sitting on your nightstand for months, or volunteer at a food bank. And don't forget that the person you're arguing with on X might not be a real person at all.