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Accurate use of quote to achieve “transference”, “appeal to authority” and “testimonial”

Accurate use of quote to achieve “transference”, “appeal to authority” and “testimonial”

TL;DR Summary This poster uses the appeal to authority, transference and testimonial methods of propaganda on behalf of the Sanders campaign. The quote is accurate and is used in the context in which Dr. King said this. The intent is to transfer positive feelings and the authority of Dr. King to Bernie Sanders. Overall, this is an effective social media propaganda poster that achieves its goal without being dishonest or exaggerating.

Re-using historical photos to assert a false conclusion

Re-using historical photos to assert a false conclusion

TL;DR Summary Making the rounds on FB, this poster supposedly shows Europeans fleeing to North Africa to escape WW II. In reality, the photo is of Europeans (from Albania) seeking refuge elsewhere in Europe in 1991. A simple Google search confirms the story. Re-using historical photos and asserting the photo shows something other than what the photo actually shows is extremely common on social media. This propaganda method works because most people have no familiarity with the photos being used…

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Oregon is not giving free college tuition to everyone

Oregon is not giving free college tuition to everyone

TL;DR Summary This poster was widely distributed on social media propaganda web sites, often in conjunction with Bernie Sanders statement that he would like 4 years of college to be free for everyone. All other states should follow Oregon’s lead, they said. Based on the comments to this poster, as it circulated, most everyone who saw this believed it applied to everyone in Oregon, at any college. Alas, the poster asserts something that is not true.

Use sleight of hand to persuade your propaganda target

Use sleight of hand to persuade your propaganda target

TL;DR Summary There is a whopper error in this poster. Can you spot it? Let’s rewrite the first line: US $7.25 Minimum Wage 49.95 Danish Krone Written that way, you would convert one currency in to the other, right? Canadian currency, like the US, is called a “dollar”. But the US dollar and the Canadian dollar are not equivalent. This propaganda poster uses this sleight of hand magic trick to persuade – most people see the $7.25 and the $10.45 and…

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Using symbolism to promote yourself backfired for Trump

Using symbolism to promote yourself backfired for Trump

TL;DR Summary Propaganda symbols are obvious in this classic propaganda poster. This poster could come from WW I, WW II, or the Cold War era. The intent is to transfer one’s feelings about the US flag to Donald Trump. This method is known as transference. Other symbols include money (implying Trump will be good for the economy), the White House (implying Trump will be presidential), and soldiers (Trump will be strong). The goal is to present Trump as Presidential. The…

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False Quotes That Spread Like Wildfire on Social Media #Socialmedia #Propaganda

False Quotes That Spread Like Wildfire on Social Media #Socialmedia #Propaganda

TL;DR Summary False quote posters, like this one, appear every day on social media, for and against numerous topics and politicians. Snopes says the quote is completely false. FactCheck.org says the quote is false. These posters work because they convey what the poster wants to believe-if you believe it to be true, than it must be true! (Indeed! I linked to Snopes in a reply to the person who posted this and he replied that he would leave it up…

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Example of trade group social media propaganda #Socialmedia #Propaganda

Example of trade group social media propaganda #Socialmedia #Propaganda

TL;DR Summary: Most people view propaganda as something undertaken by governments, especially in war time, and by politicians. But propaganda and the methods of propaganda are employed every single day by all types of organizations and participants. By sharing messages like this, you become a propagandist in the chain of propaganda! On Facebook, a “Like” or “Comment” is identical to “Share” – which means you may be “sharing” items you do not realize you are sharing!  

Enlist your employees in "social media advocacy"

Enlist your employees in "social media advocacy"

TL;DR Summary: Employers encourage employees to share company propaganda on their personal social media pages. Interesting. Because social media is a largely frictionless conduit for propaganda messaging, some companies are encouraging their staff to “share” the company messaging on their own:

Can you defend yourself against propaganda?

Can you defend yourself against propaganda?

TL;DR Summary: You can defend yourself against the propaganda onslaught but to do so is hard work. We tend to let others tell us what to believe, and we believe them! We are at our most susceptible when we are busy and tired – say in the evening while reading Facebook. That makes it easy to become a target of propaganda, and worse, we mindlessly share what we were just told to believe, with all our friends! “The media has…

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