Identifying Artificial Actors in E-Dating: A Probabilistic Segmentation Based on Interactional Pattern Analysis

We propose different behaviour and interaction related indicators of artificial actors (bots) and show how they can be separated from natural users in a virtual dating market. A finite mixture classification model is applied on the different behavioural and interactional information to classify users into bot vs. non-bot- categories. Finally the validity of the classification model and the impact of bots on sociodemographic distributions and scientific analysis is discussed.