MasterChef hits back at hashtag hijackers
MasterChef on Twitter
Channel Ten’s social media team are trying to tackle spammers by encouraging viewers to report dodgy tweets.
After Mumbrella alerted the program’s producers about the tide of spambots during last night’s episode, the show’s official Twitter account has begun to remind users of the correct hashtag and protocol for reporting suspicious Twitter accounts.
The second show in the series airs this evening at 7pm.
Last night’s opening episode experienced unusually high levels of spam traffic – estimated to be almost a third of all Twitter conversations using the hashtag #masterchef- which disrupts the experience of viewers choosing to chat online about the show while they’re watching it.
Currently Twitter permits brand new accounts to share links, something which some industry experts suggest should change to crack down on the spambots.
Masterchef tackles the spambots…
The #Masterchef hashtag picked up over 1000 Twitter spambots for the show’s first episode. Now the brand is trying to hit back…
Storified by Tim Burrowes · Mon, May 07 2012 02:26:39
Hi guys, looks like last night the #masterchef hashtag was hit with spambots – just a reminder our official hashtag is #MasterChefAuMasterChef Australia
Also as an FYI you can report instances of spambots to twitter https://twitter.com/#!/spamMasterChef Australia
#RTbyRED “@MasterChef_Aust: last night the #MasterChef #HashTag was hit with #Spambots –> #OfficialHashTag is #MasterChefAu” #FakeDanny Jones RED
There were alot of #masterchef #masterchefau bots out last night, and we’re not talking about the contestants 😉 This timeEvery Chef’s Dream
RT @edster42: #masterchefau Oh for f***s sakes, I’m not interested in your personal stories. I just want to see you cook #masterchefLiz Sheehan
Now new #MasterChef has started i must apologise to everyone for the #MasterchefAu spam each night :DPaul Berriman
RT @MasterChef_PR: Tomorrow night on the show. More product placement. More ads. More cliched one liners #masterchefau #masterchefmax halliday
Can’t spammers just use the officical #tag and still disrupt the user experience?
User ID not verified.
type in “-http” after whatever it is you are searching. So, #mastercherf -http That will remove all hyperlinks showing up and give you a clean feed.
User ID not verified.
I’m not entirely sure @masterchef_aust knows how spam bots work. Switching hashtags only helps if you change it to something that doesn’t trend.
User ID not verified.