Mike Bloomberg’s stockpile of cash, swarm of
employees and paid social media influencers are
testing the abilities of online platforms -- and
his Democratic challengers -- to keep up with an
expensive internet campaign.
Despite the billionaire and former New York City
mayor’s late entry into the presidential race,
he has far outspent his rivals on nearly every
platform in a matter of weeks.
His unconventional online strategy is heavy
on memes and the paid support of prominent
social media users, blurring the lines between
political advertising, satire and misinformation.
That has not only boosted the platforms’ bottom
lines, but has also revealed how easily their
policies can be bent.