Part 1 Weaponizing Information To Control Hearts and Minds
William Jackson, M.Ed
“Weaponized information is a message or content piece that
is designed to affect the recipient’s perception about something
or someone in a way that is not warranted.”
Weaponizing digital information is a 21st century strategy that
should be considered as the political process heats up in the
run for political offices. The seat of the President is not the only
powerhouse position that needs to be watched.
Senate and House seats are very important because they are
where laws are brought forth, policies and procedures are
created and alliances are made.
The use of Social Media and applying words, phrases, images,
soundbites and videos to create perceptions, mis-directions,
subterfuge and even perceptions of mis-trust and elitism are
applied daily. The power of the digital voice is being heard globally
and controlling minds, emotions and perceptions.
Weaponizing information is not new, but the use of Social Media
has grown since it’s successful application during the Clinton and
Obama administrations. Successes that speak of unity, collaboration,
the value of diversity and inclusion and the perceptions of inclusion
are shared in online chat rooms, in advertisements and with the
help of algorithms to post content on your timeline.
Unfortunately It has been applied at a higher level of disruption,
division, separation and even containing racial overtones and
innuendo in the current administration. Instead of having a
unifying goal it has become separative, divisive and inflammatory
with its’ language usage.
“Propaganda is an example of weaponized information:misleading
or biased information of a political nature that is usually spread
by governments.” Governments have alternative measures for
the use of digital information.
The 21st century of using media besides television and radio
allows for the carpet bombing of Facebook, Twitter and other
social sites to overwhelm people into submission or pacification
to follow the masses. When constantly bombarded by political
advertisements that are geared to specific groups of people
there comes a saturation point where the mind gives up and
surrenders to the powers that be and is placed in a concentration
camp of prisoners to a political party, agenda or re-education
program.
Weaponizing our content to match a specific gender, culture,
generation, race and even religion can be made with a video,
photo, graphic and influenced by musical accomplishment.
People are visual and look for connections, there is a
connection point where people will absorb information to
make it their own. Bringing life to information and bring
it into exhistance.
People are learning that algorithms can be manipulated,
profiles can be analyzed, connections can be linked to send
similar sources to create a dynamic and digital path so
everyone with similar mind-sets are lead down a rabbit hole
of submission and mind control. People are being exposed
to so much information either willingly or unwillingly they are
becoming shell-shocked by the massive bombing of content.
Using targeted systems, the saving of Twitter posts and the
potential to use this information against people should be
disussed as to the rights of free speech. Words have power
and influence as can be seen on Sunday messages in
ministries that service the financial aims of a church, but
not the commission of saving souls and keeping souls saved.
Weaponizing information is the threat people need to be
aware of and guard against. So education programs need
to be in place to teach people how to recognize messages
of hate, racism, division, and hidden agendas that lead to
separate our nation.
Library of Congress Has Now Archived 170 Billion Tweets
https://mashable.com/2013/01/05/library-of-congress-twitter/