Troll exploits Promoted Tweets by sharing hate speech under the guise of an Australian feminist
A troll impersonating a prominent Australian feminist on Twitter has managed to upload a series of promoted tweets urging transgender people to kill themselves.
Twitter’s Promoted Tweets, which enable users to share tweets with non-followers for a fee, were abused by the troll who was impersonated feminist Caitlin Roper. Using fake profile @Caitlin_Roperr - complete with a picture of snagged from her profile - the troll issued three hateful tweets:
"Trannies, getting surgery won't change your gender. It will only turn you into a deformed freak. End your miserable existence. Kill yourself.”
“Trannies, your families will never love you. You are living a lie & you know it. End your miserable existence. Commit suicide now."
And: "You are living a delusion. Get a rope & hang yourself. You know you want to. End it all now."
Some Twitter users questioned how the content was approved by the social media company for approval.
(TW: transphobia) Hey, @twitter, what the HELL is that promoted tweet? How on earth did that just appear on my TL? pic.twitter.com/vrPqlF24iy
— Marie Le Conte (@youngvulgarian) May 20, 2015
@Caitlin_Roperr is being disrespectful, rude, and posting graphic images. pleaaaaseee report this trash. pic.twitter.com/2w4S4a1ZYB — 『 Kaiden 』 (@KaidenThePunk) May 20, 2015Roper on Wednesday informed her followers that someone was impersonating her on the site.
Hi friends, someone has created a Twitter account impersonating me and tweeting hateful comments. Account suspended, thanks for your help x
— Caitlin Roper (@caitlin_roper) May 20, 2015
Twitter reportedly banned the troll's account an hour after a complaint was made.
A 4Chan user has taken responsibility for the incident, claiming the $25 stunt was made to protest Roper’s attempt to ban popular videogame GTAV in Australia.
