TL;DR
RevisionDojo, a YC-backed company that raised $3.4M and provides IB test prep, is accused of running coordinated astroturfing campaigns on Reddit and other platforms. Users on r/IBO and r/sat report paid or fake posts, coordinated upvoting and downvoting, pressure on critics, and solicitations for official IB materials; moderators are investigating.
What happened
Users on the r/IBO subreddit have documented a recurring pattern of manipulative marketing tied to RevisionDojo, a YC-backed test-prep startup that focuses on International Baccalaureate exams and has raised $3.4 million. Reported tactics include accounts posing as students sharing ‘cheatsheets’ or predicted exam content while other accounts upvote and post supportive comments to create the impression of organic endorsement. High-school students say they were offered payment to make promotional Reddit posts, and several contributors who posted negative experiences report being contacted by company representatives and seeing coordinated mass downvotes on critical comments. Moderators say they are investigating allegations that TikTok influencers and false social posts were used to solicit official IB exam papers, which would contravene IB policies. After acquiring OnePrep, the same patterns reportedly scaled into r/sat and review sites: users point to about 150 Trustpilot reviews appearing in a short period and at least one high-engagement Reddit post — over 2,000 upvotes — removed by moderators for manipulation.
Why it matters
- Allegations involve high-school students and communities centered on minors, raising ethical concerns about targeting and recruitment tactics.
- Coordinated fake engagement can distort information ecosystems on platforms relied upon by students seeking study resources.
- Soliciting or trading official exam materials could conflict with exam-conduct and copyright policies, potentially undermining assessment integrity.
- Manipulation of review platforms and forums can mislead parents, educators, and prospective users evaluating prep services.
Key facts
- RevisionDojo is a YC-backed test-prep company that focuses on International Baccalaureate (IB) exams and has raised $3.4 million.
- r/IBO users documented patterns they describe as astroturfing: accounts posing as students sharing ‘cheatsheets’ and predicted exam content followed by coordinated upvotes and supportive comments.
- Reports include offers of payment to high-school students to write promotional Reddit posts.
- Several users who posted negative reviews said they were contacted by company representatives and saw critical comments receive mass downvotes.
- Moderators on r/IBO are actively investigating the activity reported in multiple threads.
- Accusations include using TikTok influencers and fake posts to solicit official IB exam papers, which would violate IB policies.
- After acquiring OnePrep (oneprep.xyz), the same tactics were reported to have been used in r/sat, including a surge of roughly 150 Trustpilot reviews in a short window.
- At least one Reddit post with more than 2,000 upvotes was removed by moderators for suspected manipulation.
What to watch next
- Outcome of the r/IBO moderators' investigation and any moderator actions or public findings.
- Company response or public statement from RevisionDojo addressing the allegations: not confirmed in the source.
- Any platform enforcement actions from Reddit or review-site responses (for example, Trustpilot investigation or removals): not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Astroturfing: Coordinated online activity that mimics grassroots support by using fake or paid accounts to create misleading impressions of public opinion.
- International Baccalaureate (IB): An international educational programme offering standardized curricula and exams for students, governed by the IB organization with rules about exam security and conduct.
- Subreddit: A topic-specific forum on Reddit where users post content and comments; each subreddit is moderated by volunteers who enforce community rules.
- Influencer: A person with a social-media following who can promote products or services to their audience, sometimes used in marketing campaigns.
- Trustpilot: A third-party review platform where consumers can post ratings and reviews of companies and services.
Reader FAQ
Has RevisionDojo been definitively proven to run these campaigns?
Users on Reddit have documented patterns consistent with coordinated manipulation, and moderators are investigating, but definitive proof beyond user reports is not presented in the source.
Did the company respond to the allegations?
Not confirmed in the source.
Are official IB policies implicated?
Sources say the activity reported includes attempts to solicit official IB exam papers, which would violate IB policies.
Did the acquisition of OnePrep change the scale of activity?
Users report similar manipulation tactics expanding after RevisionDojo acquired OnePrep, including a surge of about 150 Trustpilot reviews and high-engagement Reddit posts removed for manipulation.
RevisionDojo is a YC-backed test prep company ($3.4M raised) that sells International Baccalaureate (IB) test prep. Over the past year, users on r/IBO sub-reddit have documented a pattern of unethical…
Sources
- RevisionDojo, a YC startup, is running astroturfing campaigns targeting kids
- https://snap.berkeley.edu/project/13128922
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