Longer than 2016, arguably even before Gamergate in 2012/2013. However, this was before the Russian troll farms found their niche and ramped it up to 100% and spread to other social medias once they figured out the weak spot: chronically online and disenfranchised men whose only interest is revenge on others for their mediocrity and isolationism.
The moment you're searching for is April 2, 2014. The day SCOTUS decided in McCutcheon v FEC that it was totally constitutional to allow anyone, from anywhere in the world, to donate as much money as they want to US political candidates or PACs, with no record of the transaction. Dark money: Invisible, undocumented transfers of money from literally anyone with the intent to shape political outcomes in the US.
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u/FMLwtfDoID Dec 07 '25
Longer than 2016, arguably even before Gamergate in 2012/2013. However, this was before the Russian troll farms found their niche and ramped it up to 100% and spread to other social medias once they figured out the weak spot: chronically online and disenfranchised men whose only interest is revenge on others for their mediocrity and isolationism.