Is Act buying social media followers?
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8:14 am, April 8th, 2022 - 14 comments
Categories: act, david seymour, Media, social media lolz, spin, you couldn't make this shit up -
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This is awkward.
Hot on the heels of news that Act has recently received a number of significant donations comes news that it may have spent some of these funds on buying social media followers.
From Ireland Hendry-Tennett at Stuff:
ACT leader David Seymour says he hasn’t bought social media followers and is investigating after his Instagram followers jumped by 48,000 in one day.
Data from social media monitoring platform Crowdtangle shows Seymour’s followers increased from 23,800 on Wednesday to 72,600 on Thursday.
The jump was noticed on Twitter with several people questioning what caused it and whether the MP had bought followers.
…
Many of the new followers looked suspiciously like fake accounts with random numbers and underscores in their names.
But Seymour poured cold water on the suggestions on Thursday tweeting: “We would never buy followers. My team has asked @Meta for an explanation.”
Maybe he is right. Maybe there is something about him that is attractive to sex bots. Perhaps sex bots are attracted to holograms.
https://twitter.com/shaneellall/status/1512008563992203267
I suspect that as soon as the main verifier sites can confirm and analyse the data an interesting picture will emerge.
14 comments on “Is Act buying social media followers? ”
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- Fast-Track, off the rails: Submitters show strong opposition to Bill
Despite resounding public opposition, the fast-track legislation is being pushed through Parliament with provisions that could have real consequences for people and planet. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Labour supports continuing fight for dairy access
Labour welcomes the National Government’s decision to further pursue our access to the Canadian dairy market under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Job losses devastating for Timaru
Confirmed news that the Smithfield meatworks will close is devastating for the hundreds of people who work there, Timaru and the wider region. ...3 weeks ago
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- Release: Further uncertainty for Kiwirail as jobs set to go
KiwiRail offering voluntary redundancy to all its staff is hugely concerning given the future of New Zealand’s rail system is under threat. ...3 weeks ago
- ASA Declares Hobson’s Pledge Advertising Misleading and Socially Irresponsible
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- Release: Benefit numbers continue to soar under National
National’s all pain approach to beneficiaries has yielded no gain as benefit numbers continue to surge past projected figures. ...3 weeks ago
- Casey Costello: What Once Was…
Entering politics is a privilege afforded to very few and, as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. Being an MP is a call to service. Whatever your politics you have a duty to show up. Whatever your party's policy, you have made a promise to those who ...3 weeks ago
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- International Energy Agency issues wake-up call on climate action
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- Release: Lack of funding puts pressure on frontline Police
News that 173 roles are being cut at Police will only put more pressure on the frontline. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Bipartisan agreement on outdated marriage law
Changes to outdated relationships legislation has passed its third reading giving family violence survivors the power to quickly dissolve abusive marriages. ...3 weeks ago
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- Appointments strengthen Conservation Boards
The latest Conservation Board appointments will help to strengthen environmental efforts across Aotearoa New Zealand, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. Mr Potaka today announced 64 appointments to the country’s 14 Conservation Boards. “Conservation Boards play a vital role as liaison between DOC with their regions, making their community’s voice heard ...9 hours ago
- First steps towards National Infrastructure Plan
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- Stats show Medsafe accelerates approval assessments
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- New rules mean faster payment times for small businesses
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- Speech – Diwali 2024
Namaste. Namaskar. Namaskaram. Vanakkam. Sat Sri Akal. Kem chho. Greetings to you all. It is my great privilege, as Minister for Ethnic Communities, to host this year’s Diwali Celebration at Parliament. I am truly excited to be with you all for Diwali as your Minister, and I warmly welcome each ...1 day ago
- Accelerating maths achievement for Kiwi kids
The Government is continuing to transform maths education, by trialling a targeted maths acceleration programme to give more Kiwi kids confidence in mathematics. “After discovering just 22 per cent of Year 8 students are at the expected standard for maths, we launched our Make it Count Action Plan to give our ...1 day ago
- Government’s creative sector strategy released
The Government’s creative sector strategy is designed to increase Kiwis’ engagement with culture and creativity and to boost its economic contribution, Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Amplify has been released for public consultation and I encourage people to read the strategy and to share their feedback. “There’s an opportunity to ...1 day ago
- On-sold programme changes bring resolution to homeowners and taxpayers
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- Todd McClay to lead large trade mission to China
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- New Charter to guarantee better access for hunting and fishing
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- Pou Whenua blessing honours Tongariro
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- New members appointed to the NZTA Board
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- Welcome relief from new oestradiol gel funding
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- Deputy Prime Minister visit to Australia
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- Applications now open for new training pathway
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- Increased medicines access continues following budget boost
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour is pleased to see further increased availability of medicines for Kiwis following the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When this Government assumed office, ...5 days ago
- New Zealand concludes high quality trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
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- Government seeks views on remote court attendance
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- Breast screening age extension begins in Nelson Marlborough
Free breast screening has been extended for 70 to 74-year-old women living in the Nelson Marlborough district, ahead of a national roll-out late next year, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today. “Breast cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand with about 3,400 women diagnosed with the disease ...5 days ago
- Te Māori Manaaki Taonga Trust Board strengthened
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- Affordable housing project supporting home ownership
Up to 300 affordable, healthy, community-tailored homes helping to support home ownership are set to be built in eastern Porirua, supported by Government funding for Our Whare Our Fale through the Building Homes for Pacific in Porirua initiative, Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti and Associate Housing Minister Tama ...5 days ago
- Dire benefit forecasts show the need for Welfare that Works
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- Trade Minister travels to Doha for GCC trade discussions
Trade Minister Todd McClay will hold trade discussions with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) trade ministers in Doha this week. Minister McClay will meet with all six GCC Trade Ministers, as well as the GCC Secretary General. “This will be my seventh visit to the region this year including two Ministerial ...6 days ago
- Podiatry prescribers will boost patient care
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and Associate Minister David Seymour say it’s great news that podiatrists will soon be able to prescribe medicines, meaning patients with painful foot and leg conditions don’t have to make a separate trip to the doctor. “This simple step means a big change for people ...6 days ago
- Historic redress inequities finally resolved for Lake Alice Unit survivors
The Government is addressing historic redress inequities for some survivors abused at the Lake Alice Child and Adolescent Unit. In 2001, the Crown reached a $6.5 million group settlement with 95 survivors subjected to abuse at the Lake Alice Unit. Law firm Grant Cameron & Associates (now GCA Lawyers) represented ...6 days ago
- ERO report shows Government’s truancy emphasis is vital
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that the Education Review Office’s (ERO) timely report on chronic school absence released today is further evidence of a truancy crisis. “Chronic absence has doubled since 2015. This report reinforces that action is needed to ensure this generation reaches its full potential,” says Associate ...7 days ago
- Minister welcomes business view on AML
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- Mangamuka Gorge opening in time for Christmas
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- Trusted building professionals able to self-certify
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- New appointments to the TEC board
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- Move to fast-track overseas doctors welcomed
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- Address to Western Sydney University: Constitutional and Rule of Law challenges in current global en...
Tēnā koutou Nau mai haere mai ki tenei hui Thank you to Vice Chancellor Williams, and the University of Western Sydney, for inviting me to speak today. I speak to you today in my capacity as Attorney-General – the New Zealand Crown’s Senior Law Officer. In this capacity, I serve ...1 week ago
- Security advice for start-ups welcomed
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- Funding support to strengthen frontline volunteer service organisations
The Government has approved $23.1 million for four critical frontline volunteer service organisations to replace storm-damaged assets and provide training and equipment to improve New Zealand’s response to future emergency events, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey says. $14.6 million for Surf Life Saving New ...1 week ago
- Jones heads to international mining conference
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- NZ investing in Pacific disaster preparedness & climate resilience
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- Police to increase presence on Auckland public transport
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- Government funds helicopter replacements
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- Treaty Principles Bill to be introduced to Parliament this week
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Does this mean anything?
Does this mean anything?
"this" means "referring to a specific thing"
If Act were buying social media followers it would mean something. Surely it would mean they are buying social media followers.
The whats, whys and wherefores would be the interesting thing. Maybe journalists will question the Act MPs about it.
Another sterling performance from the pre–eminent public self pleasurer of NZ politics!
I wonder if its occurred to him that the joke is on him.
Yes, either Seymour is the victim of a prank (hack) or it was an emotional junior staffer.
Strange party, strange leader, strange members, strange supporters.
Dangerous, disingenuous, dog whistling party. Strange it isn't IMO just the rat cunning one should expect from the well resourced right.
Seymour comes across as a buffoon but that cash buys significant advice and 'influence' as they say which he'll use in his own special way.
Hahahahahaha.
Act will be asking for their birth certificates next so they can steal their identities or do they only do that to dead children?
Maybe Seymour took a helicopter ride with one of them and can't remember?
Hahaha 😂 buying followers….
Recall Judith Collins was paying for likes.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/a-quarter-of-nationals-fb-ad-spend-chasing-likes-for-collins
The aim seems to be to give the perception of popularity, while it doesn't actually exist.
Smoke and mirrors, cos their policies and personalities turn people off.
Seymore is likely to hold the balance of power at the next election .If you havn't figured that out your pretty slow.
Youre point is? Labour should be ready to do a deal with Act?
Lol so you are a fan of a bloke whose name you can't even spell and you call others slow – priceless
You're? Your?
Yore when politicians were driven by greater stuff than the likes of their fake & fecklessly fickle followers.