Thousands of Russian accounts amassed millions of followers on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit and Pinterest, generating hundreds of millions of social engagements. “Trump is mentioned most in campaigns targeting conservatives and right-wing voters, where the messaging encouraged these groups to support his campaign. The IRA gave particular attention to African-American audiences; 30 of its 81 Facebook pages, for example, were meant for black Americans and amassed 1.2 million followers. The IRA, whose leadership has ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, used an array of tactics to get its message out. Company officials told Congress that the Russian campaign reached 126 million people on Facebook and 20 million more on Instagram.

Source: Huffington Post December 17, 2018 19:52 UTC