Based on the study summarized in the article link below, patterns in language and thought can predict and even anticipate what someone might post to others based on analysis of past language, connections, and behavior patterns. This will, no doubt, be used by anyone wishing to steer opinions for either political, social, or economic purposes. Surprising? No. Creepy? Yes!
It’s estimated that a huge percentage of social media accounts (up to 50 % are fictitious. These profiles are owned and managed by marketing campaigns and “troll farms” to be used for marketing and political purposes in order to game the algorithms used to point people toward “trending” news topics. It’s misdirection aimed at spreading misinformation.,These bots and farms will continue to get better at fooling people.
The “social media” ship has sailed, and it hardly matters if we individually try not to participate. Even lack of participation is predictable and if news cycles and other societal factors can be manipulated, even those not on anu social media platform will still be influenced. For example, whatever the President of the United States posts on Twitter will be quoted and displayed in countless media publications. A social media post can create or extinguish a celebrity career, and context or intent hardly matters.
So it’s up to us to understand what all this stuff coming at us actually means and from where it’s all coming. Did you read something that triggered some emotional response and compelled you to “tag” someone, share or “like” something, or make some comment? Why were you seeing that? Are you sure you weren’t targeted and your response wasn’t predicted and part of some campaign?
What’s crazier still is that whatever is posted, even someone’s ability to post or comment on something, is controlled by some other entity. We willingly forfeit our photos, content, and attention to websites that make us the product, manipulate our opinions, misinform is, and sell us out.
Recent Comments