this post was submitted on 19 Apr 2026
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[–] daannii@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

To be fair the oligarchy tech companies do mass social media manipulation that is basically unchecked.

They do this at the behest of other countries.

I realize we all want to hold people accountable. there is definitely a level of personal responsibility. But it's worth be aware that mass manipulation is a thing.

It can work fairly effectively.

especially when news and social media is controlled.

Most people are conformist. It's actually kind of how we as a species have dominated the planet.

Everything that makes us great is also a weakness.

We can make snap judgments. Act instead of letting things happen. Like a lion nabbing us.
We use mental shortcuts and heuristics to do this. The same processes that cause stereotypes and biases.

We look to other humans to learn how to do things like hunt, care for children, grow crops. Determine which plants can be eaten. This reliance on learning from others and doing as they do means we accept many social norms without questioning them. And even if a few people do, these individuals are outcast. Conformity is highly enforced in most cultures.

There is also ways of grooming people that are very effective and the methods are well known.
Cults use them. But so do politicians and other leaders like the anti vaccine people and grifters.

For instance. The more you hear something, the more you believe it's true because it becomes "common knowledge". Which is rarely questioned.

The Tech people and grifters manipulating public opinions understands these things about humans. And they use them.