A new incident response report from the Canadian Digital Media Research Network (CDMRN) identifies a coordinated network of 20 inauthentic YouTube channels targeting Albertan audiences with nearly 40 million views, exploiting real grievances to push narratives that normalize secession and even U.S.
YOU don’t watch it. But I’ve watched in real time while videos like this appear on relative’s feeds while they doomscroll as they uncritically absorb everything that appears. Sometimes watching the same video two or five times because the damn app loops. And when I point out “you know that’s bullshit right?” The response is always some variation of: “I wasn’t paying attention to what it said I was just watching.” But they are absorbing it because days or weeks later they will parrot that same BS at me in a conversation.
Okay, fair enough. But do you think something like this would convince someone not already committed to secession? I can see how it would be appealing to support a narrative someone already has, but do you think it actually convinces people to change their mind on the issue?
On its own in a vacuum, no. But that’s why propaganda is seeded across multiple sources over extended periods in places people are half checked out in mentally. It’s the same reason advertising works. That one advert won’t get you, but if you hear a jingle, see a commercial, a billboard, an ad, an endorsement, a logo at your favorite team’s sports park… Ever wonder why your favorite softdrink is your favorite softdrink?
These propagandistic channels only need to plant the seeds of an idea, regularly feed it, wait until people are convinced the idea is their own, then wait for a counter pushback. That’s when the propaganda really takes root. Just like with Q or flat earthers, they will dig in to defend themselves from anyone challenging them. Logic need not apply. Push back only makes their conviction stronger.
I agree with all that. I haven’t been paying too much attention. Has separatist feeling been increasing? My feeling (based on nothing) was that it was static around 20%.
Speratism has been increasing everywhere on the right and the left. Rather that’s an intentional divide and control strategy or people organically getting sick of the systems around them - whose to say. I used to say nothing will come of it but then I watched the UK take themselves right out of the EU and found out Cambridge Analytica had a heavy hand in it.
Also 20% is a big number. That’s one in five people. Every fifth person. That’s a LOT. You only need 3.5% of the population to make a nonviolent policy change, 10% for a revolution against Great Britain. Even if that number stays at 20% my worry is some entity will organize that angry mass towards a goal.
I agree, 20% is a lot. That’s why the issues raised by the separatist side need to be addressed, and not just dismissed. Justin Trudeau wouldn’t give Alberta the time of day. Hopefully, Carney will be better.
A bunch of YouTube channels that no one watches anyway. Nothing burger.
I wish that were true. My elderly father has this slop playing constantly. It’s a struggle to have a conversation based in reality these days.
I am myself flooded by AI astrophysics videos by dead scientists and it’s so annoying.
YOU don’t watch it. But I’ve watched in real time while videos like this appear on relative’s feeds while they doomscroll as they uncritically absorb everything that appears. Sometimes watching the same video two or five times because the damn app loops. And when I point out “you know that’s bullshit right?” The response is always some variation of: “I wasn’t paying attention to what it said I was just watching.” But they are absorbing it because days or weeks later they will parrot that same BS at me in a conversation.
Okay, fair enough. But do you think something like this would convince someone not already committed to secession? I can see how it would be appealing to support a narrative someone already has, but do you think it actually convinces people to change their mind on the issue?
On its own in a vacuum, no. But that’s why propaganda is seeded across multiple sources over extended periods in places people are half checked out in mentally. It’s the same reason advertising works. That one advert won’t get you, but if you hear a jingle, see a commercial, a billboard, an ad, an endorsement, a logo at your favorite team’s sports park… Ever wonder why your favorite softdrink is your favorite softdrink?
These propagandistic channels only need to plant the seeds of an idea, regularly feed it, wait until people are convinced the idea is their own, then wait for a counter pushback. That’s when the propaganda really takes root. Just like with Q or flat earthers, they will dig in to defend themselves from anyone challenging them. Logic need not apply. Push back only makes their conviction stronger.
I agree with all that. I haven’t been paying too much attention. Has separatist feeling been increasing? My feeling (based on nothing) was that it was static around 20%.
Speratism has been increasing everywhere on the right and the left. Rather that’s an intentional divide and control strategy or people organically getting sick of the systems around them - whose to say. I used to say nothing will come of it but then I watched the UK take themselves right out of the EU and found out Cambridge Analytica had a heavy hand in it.
Also 20% is a big number. That’s one in five people. Every fifth person. That’s a LOT. You only need 3.5% of the population to make a nonviolent policy change, 10% for a revolution against Great Britain. Even if that number stays at 20% my worry is some entity will organize that angry mass towards a goal.
I agree, 20% is a lot. That’s why the issues raised by the separatist side need to be addressed, and not just dismissed. Justin Trudeau wouldn’t give Alberta the time of day. Hopefully, Carney will be better.