CNN - Fake in China: 488 million social media posts a year
CNN reports: "The Chinese government cranks out 488 million fake social media posts a year in an effort to divert attention away from sensitive issues, a new study estimates. The researchers describe a 'massive secretive operation' carried out by government employees, highlighting just how far China is willing to go to control news and information."

Comment: Social media seems to take on a life of its own  with the narrative sometimes diverging wildly from the original topic. Celebrities, governments and corporations have all have their social media fails as well-intended  tweets are either misinterpreted or mocked online. But, what if you could guide the flow of the narrative? If social media is a storm would it be possible to manufacture countervailing winds to steer the storm in the desired direction? It seems that China is currently conducting just such an experiment using millions of fake social media posts. It's a fascinating and yet scary development.