Be Careful Who You Listen To

A few weeks ago, mainstream news outlets like CBS and others began to report that many of the seemingly American conservative political X accounts originated from foreign countries. A relatively new feature on X now allows users to see exactly the location where each account is based.

X profiles featuring American symbols (flags, eagles, pictures of Trump) with handles such as @MAGANationX are located in Eastern Europe, Asia, or Africa– not the United States. Any X account might be using a VPN (virtual private network) to mask its true location. It is also understandable for any given user to want to remain anonymous when commenting on political issues in our deeply divided nation. This protects one’s true identity from those who might expose their “unacceptable” posts to employers, neighbors, friends, and family. We all saw the result of this during COVID-19 when careers were destroyed overnight for objecting to mandatory vaccines.

The BBC pointed out that there are also plenty of foreign, liberal-leaning X accounts, and that this problem is not only a conservative one. But whether the account is truly foreign or domestic cannot be the only litmus test for assessing the reliability and authenticity of the information shared.

We all have to become better at understanding the political and social propaganda (left or right) being peddled to us daily through our phones. It is very easy to be taken in by a story we want to believe to be true. Still, critical thinking and a healthy dose of skepticism need to be employed lest we become victims of nefarious actors trying to shape public opinion or simply make a buck by getting clicks.

Below are some of the techniques propagandists use to manipulate others:

Name-Calling/Demonization: Using insults or negative labels for opponents or groups that are targeted. Example: “Jewish people rule the world.”

Glittering Generalities: Vague, positive-sounding words to sway opinion. Example: “We are fighting for our democracy.”

Transfer: Associating an idea with something respected (like a flag) or disliked (a tyrant) to transfer feelings. Example: “We don’t elect kings in the United States.”

Testimonials: Using endorsements from respected or relatable figures like celebrities or even clergy to justify positions. Example: It is an act of Christian charity to get the COVID vaccination. 

Plain Folks: Presenting thought leaders as everyday people to build a connection. Example: An X profile featuring the following: “Patriot, Dad, New Yorker.”

Bandwagon: Suggesting everyone else thinks this way, and you should too. Example: “A woman deserves the right to choose what she does with her body.”

Bias: Cherry-picking facts or omitting info to support a single viewpoint. Example: “Violent crime statistics in Chicago are declining.”

Emotional Manipulation: Activating intense fear, anger, or excitement to bypass logic. Example: “You must take the Covid-19 vaccine or you are going to kill your grandmother.”

For most of us, the above examples seem obvious and easy to spot, but are we equally able to see propaganda that supports our own worldview? To do that, one must not accept narratives without evidence – even if we want them to be true.

The recent Candace Owens phenomenon is a perfect example of this. Millions of her subscribers and followers who doubted the official Charlie Kirk assassination narrative got caught up in drama and began to believe the yarn she was spinning. They got so deeply into the story that there was no pulling them back to reality.

At its core, propaganda is a manipulative technique. To avoid being controlled by it in the future, use common sense, thoroughly analyze what is being presented, and try to determine who is benefiting from pushing it. There are plenty of Judas Iscariots out there, and we need to be ready to dump a once-trusted news or X source once the propagandistic veil has been lifted.