Preventing Spam

Question

so I thought about how to prevent spam in Q&A and I think there should be some limits when you'll be able to post a question. but I'm not quite sure what would be fair for the users. should you complete at least one course? or start a course and have your account for a certain amount of time? what do you think?
most spammers create their account and spam right away. I'm talking about those who advertise for silly overpriced products which nobody needs.

Answer 1

I beg to differ..
You cannot put limitations to when a user wants to ask a question. Expecting first to reach a specific level and then giving prieveleges​ to ask a question or post an answer.
As this is a beginner friendly forum there can be people who have a question right away regarding what their first language should be or what are the mistakes to prevent happening in future.
As of now no certain measure can be thought of.
I hope Solo learn comes up with a good way for account verification filter​ till then..
Keep Reporting...!!!

Answer 2

@Tashi N..true they are verified accounts..
But the system should be made more efficient
A good verification process will filter out.. maybe not all.. but atleast some of spam users.. The rest work can be done by the community

Answer 3

I submitted 150 XP minimum for posting at Q&A to SoloLearn ^^
Instead of that they implemented the mod reporting feature.
BTW all spam accounts are verified accounts.

Answer 4

@Frost hmm... point to be noted
**KEEP CALM, CODE AND REPORT**

Answer 5

It's intriguing how most spam bots have their accounts verified almost instantaneously.

Answer 6

coder: all hands on deck! we need to make a move real quick
*AI enters like a boss*
*all are too stumped to answer*
AI: get down and report!!!
(after 2 mins) *ALERT: 10 spam accounts reported*

Answer 7

these might be few possible measures:
1. verified/validated email account,
2. *point 2nd removed due to valid objections*
3.an AI that checks if the basic necessities of a valid query are followed/fulfilled,
4. some influence in the community ( would 20 be a good no.?),
5. constant user.
6. zero suspicious activities, no account reports or blockings.

Answer 8

@Tashi any indefinite solution is bound to increase the problem. I think loopholes will always be there as you, @Sandeep and @Frost just made clear...

Answer 9

@Sandeep do you seriously think that a salesman-cum-coder would take all the troubles to create a false email account just to advertise a product and please his boss?

Answer 10

@Sandeep I partly agree with your point. but don't want to make a scene here with all this pointless war-of-words...°×°...forgot all about the new gen thing#°-°

Answer 11

Maybe a certain amount of text in the question? I don't know how well that would work.
But I definitely agree with email validation before posting ?s.

Answer 12

@Hatsy Rei:
.. ...spam bots (?)... accounts verified almost instantaneously(what?!!how?)......

Answer 13

Yeah, that's the problem. how do we determine whether it's a beginner who really wants to learn or a spammer who just wants to sell hair growth products? maybe it'd be better if threads from users with little xp get deleted without reporting when they get 5 or 10 downvotes.
this topic is really tough. how do you keep a forum clean without annoying real users?

Answer 14

mmm maybe one of those are you human tests on email verification?

Answer 15

maybe just a module or two. rather than a whole course

Answer 16

Its very easy to create fake mails and you get 15 xp for validation .So first 2 points have no effect @Rahul George
Each day 5 questions for the courses one has completed .Eg: if you complete 2 course you got 10. 3-15 and so on..What you think? @Mario L
But there will be always a loophole for everyone though

Answer 17

@Rahul George Its 21st century. Anything is possible. "all the troubles"?.It only takes less than 5 mints to create a fake mail and join the sololearn. "salesman-cum-coder" would have spammed 5 more threads with different mails by the time you report them

Answer 18

@Mario Yeah! Maybe, since all of those spammers post external links (I think) that could be controlled (who can post with external links in the ?.) of course, there are always loopholes. 🤔