Frequently asked questions
How to interpret scores, what data we use, and what BotShark does not claim.
Every report says what we looked at, what we couldn't see, and how sure we are.
What does Not enough to tell mean?
Three different situations share that label. Too few posts: fewer than 20 authored posts in what we collected (replies count). Collection incomplete: the fetch stopped short — retry. Language we cannot read yet: English-text checks stay off, and the report says so rather than treating that as a pass. It never means “the account is empty” when the fetch failed.
Why is a quick scan different from a deep scan?
A quick scan (Free) reads the account’s own recent posts: profile, posting pattern, reply patterns, and known coordination. A deep scan (App and Pro) also samples who follows it, who it follows, and who amplifies it. The score means the same thing in both; a quick scan can say Not enough to tell more often. AI text sensors are not in the product yet.
Does BotShark prove someone is a bot?
No. We estimate likelihood from behavioural signals. High tiers mean multiple heuristics align — always review the evidence before drawing conclusions.
What data do you collect?
Public profile fields and recent posts/replies visible without logging in as the target account. We do not access DMs or private data.
Is this politically neutral?
Rules measure automation and coordination patterns, not ideology or affiliation. See our neutrality page for how sampling and scoring stay non-partisan.
Can I share a report publicly?
Yes — public report URLs are designed for citation. Include methodology context when publishing findings so readers can evaluate the evidence.
X and Bluesky — same methodology?
Core behavioural signals are platform-agnostic. Collection adapts to each platform API or public surface; the scoring rules are shared where signals align.
How is BotShark different from Bot Sentinel?
BotShark is evidence-first. You inspect the checks that fired. Reports are public by handle; the person scanned can dispute them. We do not run an automated enforcement pipeline.
Can journalists request data access?
Yes — see our for journalists page and contact form with your outlet, deadline, and what you are trying to verify.
Can I put a BotShark score on my own site?
Yes — every analysed account has an embeddable badge you can drop into your own page. See Settings → Embed in the app for the snippet.
What happens to my data if I stop using BotShark?
You can export or delete your account data at any time from Settings — nothing lingers by default, and nothing requires a support ticket to remove.