Study reveals fake accounts partly drove Target backlash after DEI changes

The opposite reaction was deported online against the goal after the series retreated from its controversial diversity policies, stock and integration (DEI) to a large extent through fraudulent accounts, according to a new study published by Israeli -Israeli Sapara.

TARGET was a subject for a fierce boycott and reprimand online, causing the company to suffer from decreased sales and the price of the share price decreased after the retailer announced that it has retracted the DEI policies. One of the policies that were retracted was the company’s access to the representation of minorities in management.

The study, which analyzed 2226 accounts on social media that generated 3,379 jobs participating in paying negative morale against the target, found that 27 % of the accounts included in the survey were fake, and that these fake accounts had generated more than 1,000 jobs, which contributed to a viral accumulation against the retail seller.

“The public is tampered with in actual time. What is like the general consensus on the Internet is often fake, is manufactured through the unreliable accounts that make up perception and lead artificial anger. Companies make decisions of millions of dollars based on the data created by Protus. They are betting on the value of the shareholders on the unreal signs,” said Cyabra Dan Brahmy Digital.

The Sharbatoun holds a “constructive and frank” meeting with the CEO of Dei’s initiatives

The retail chain has been a controversial rod from both sides of the political spectrum over the past few years, whether because of its progressive ideals and its decision to avoid away from them.

The target clients in 2023 after many stores began storing LGBTQ elements in pride offers. The “garlic friend” stores for transgender customers, cups decorated with the term “liquid sex” and other elements. Customers’ anger in the transportation of some stores with pride goods to a less prominent section of the store, for fear that the company will suffer from “Bud Light mode”, in reference to a violent reaction against the brand of beer to partnership with sexual activist Dylan Molvani.

TARGET announced in January that they will retract their Dei initiatives, which included goals to increase black representation in management and enhance black -owned companies. The company has also pledged that it would not reports to diversity polls such as the Human Rights Equality Index.

After the TARGET axis away from Dei, the retail seller was banned from the Twin Cities Pride Festival in Minneapolis after years of sponsoring the event. Atlanta -based priest Jamal Bryant began a 40 -day boycott for the store in March, claiming that the goal had turned his back into black society.

“We ask people to steal from the goal because they turned their back to our community,” Reverend Jamal Brian told CNN at the time.

Reverend Bryant denied that his campaign used robots in a statement to Fox News Digital, and confirmed that the work in which his organization participated is authentic.

“We have not been published on X since last year. Robots have never been used by the campaign. Since we cannot speak to a manufactured algorithm, what we know is the real is the decrease in traffic on foot, the inventory has decreased, and the evaluation has decreased, and the salary was reduced by the executive director. He told Priest Bryant Fox News Digital in a statement.

The target previously faced criticism of her pride. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

The target is facing a 40 -day boycott for DEI initiatives to retreat

With the growth of the left reaction, TARGET found itself received by the evil messages on social media. Social media publications started with retail marks that include phrases such as “#Boycotttarget” “#Conomicblackout”, “Target Fast” and “40 Day BWECott” in the appearance of accounts that have provided themselves as belonging to a black user, according to the Cyabra study.

Technology has found that the publications are completely in line with the “economic blackout” calendar. The “economic blackout” was a movement of provinces circulating throughout the country targeting Dei’s companies, which target among them.

The study found that other fraudulent accounts that were presented as conservative users criticized the goal of its previous embrace of Dei and LGBTQ policies, and thus the creation of Pincer movement via the Internet where the company was receiving a negative noise from all angles.

Cyabra conducted a follow-up analysis between May-June and found that 40 % of the accounts are still publishing negatively about the target was fake.

“Fake accounts kidnapped online novels and lead to financial results in the real world. The targeted boycott was a very coordinated digital attack-consumer reactions and market value accelerated. This is the impact on economic brands now,” Cyabra spokeswoman Jill Perks told Fox News Digital.

TARGET did not respond to the Fox News Digital request for comment.

The study analyzed thousands of social media accounts, nourishing the opposite reaction against the goal.

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Target recently published sales numbers less than the average for the first quarter of 2025. Sales decreased by 2.8 % from last year, and sales in stores decreased for at least a year by 3.8 % in the first quarter. The company attributed the late sales numbers to a violent reaction to fight Dei and uncertainty in Trump Tafaf.