During the run-up to the 2016 US election, approximately how many people read content in their feeds originated from Russian-based bots and trolls?

• A. 100k
• B. 1 million
• C. 100 million
• D. 29 million

Answer: (D)

This question is about the scale of exposure to content that originated from Russian-linked bots and trolls on social media during the 2016 run-up. Investigations and disclosures from that period indicate that tens of millions of Americans saw material in their feeds that came from Russian-backed accounts. The figure around 29 million reflects the approximate number of distinct U.S. users who encountered such content on Facebook in the campaign, illustrating how widespread exposure was, not just how many posts or ads were placed.

Why this fits best: 29 million sits between the smaller counts like 100k or 1 million and a much larger estimate like 100 million, aligning with documented accounts of the reach of Russian-origin material on Facebook during that time. It shows that the impact was substantial—millions of people were exposed to this content in their feeds, which can influence perceptions even without direct engagement.

If you’re weighing the other numbers, think about scale: 100k and 1 million are far too small given the platform’s user base and the extent of the operation, while 100 million would likely exceed the known reach of Russian content in the U.S. during that period.