Alessandro Balestrucci

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Alessandro Balestrucci’s research lies at the intersection of computational social science and cybersecurity, with a primary focus on detecting deceptive behaviors in online social networks. His most cited work, “Identification of credulous users on Twitter” (2019, 17 citations), addresses a critical vulnerability in digital ecosystems: the exploitation of social bots—automated accounts that impersonate humans to amplify fake news or inflate popularity metrics. Balestrucci’s key contribution is developing methods to identify not just bots, but the human users most susceptible to their influence, offering a more nuanced approach to combating misinformation. This work has been foundational for subsequent studies on social bot detection and user vulnerability, earning recognition for its practical implications in safeguarding public discourse. Beyond this, his research explores how automated accounts manipulate online interactions, contributing to a growing body of literature on digital trust. With a citation count reflecting his impact on this emerging field, Balestrucci’s work is essential reading for students and researchers interested in the mechanics of online deception, the psychology of credulity, and the design of resilient social platforms.