A few days ago, the news that it Facebook together with a group of scientists, had carried out an experiment aimed at verifying whether or not it could be possible to transfer a particular state of mind through emotional transmission.
The experiment was carried out about two years ago, and as mentioned above, we were investigating how an emotional state that is transmitted through Facebook publications affected other social networking users.
Facebook's participation in this experiment, which was essentially aimed at mass manipulation of its members, was carried out by changing the algorithm that the service uses to display certain publications a little, but always in the first ones we see in the News Feed.
Naturally, what will happen in a few weeks now will probably have to be expected. Facebook's invasive ways will be forgotten (even if no one forgives them), and everyone will continue to use it as it used to, as if nothing happened.
What is interesting and quite ironic is that while almost everyone reacted shocked to the news with this experiment, there are so many other cases of mass manipulation that happen everyday and no one reacts. Unlike Facebook's one-week experiment, the cases of manipulation that happen around us are everyday phenomena. One can assume that some are playing with the minds of the masses but have not been criticized because some probably do not even know their existence.
Below are three examples of daily manipulation that no one complains about, but perhaps should.
Managing the media
We do not believe that the media is trustworthy and reliable. The media are more or less shaping that we read, that we hear, or that we are watching. In simple words, the news has become very vulnerable and a little too defenseless. Usually, excess or perhaps simplification is used. In the most extreme cases, of course, there is deformation and construction of news.
Ίσως φταίει η άνοδος του Διαδικτύου, ή ίσως οι ίδιες οι εποχές αλλά τα μέσα μαζικής ενημέρωσης έχουν χάσει την αξιοπιστία τους. Με απλά λόγια, δεν είναι πλέον για την ενημέρωση του κόσμου, είναι για να κάνουν το κοινό να διαβάσει "ειδήσεις." Ας μην είναι αληθινές ή ας είναι μέσα στην υπερβολή. Μπορεί να απέχουν πολύ από την πρώτη είδηση, αλλά κάνουν περισσότερη εντύπωση. Φήμες με ένα πιασάρικο τίτλο, και ο κόσμος θα κάνει το πολυπόθητα κλικ σε μια υποτιθέμενη είδηση. Ο εγκέφαλος μάλιστα ορισμένων έχει αναισθητοποιηθεί τόσο πολύ που κάνουν κλικς μόνο σε τίτλους που εντυπωσιάζουν και μάλιστα από sites που είναι γνωστά για την "ποιότητα" ειδήσεων που προσφέρουν.
It seems that, for some reason, the mass media has largely shifted from being a means of providing information to the public, to being a means of entertainment. The better the fun, the more money that are invested.
Ο Michael Arrington, ιδρυτής του δημοφιλούς blog TechCrunch, ανέφερε: "Με απλά λόγια: δεν χρειάζεται εκτεταμένη έρευνα για να βεβαιωθείτε ότι έχετε τις σωστές πληροφορίες, απλά βεβαιωθείτε ότι, όταν προκύπτει κάποια ιστορία, το site σας θα την παρουσιάσει πρώτο και να προσελκύσει τους περισσότερους αναγνώστες."
Unfortunately it is true. Too many media do not try to inform you, but to grab your attention that they later sell to advertisers.
Έτσι, βασικά, ίσως να σκέφτεστε ότι έχετε επαφή με το τι συμβαίνει στον κόσμο, αλλά αυτό που συμβαίνει στην πραγματικότητα είναι ότι σας εξαπατούν για να κάνετε το επόμενο κλικ προς όφελος αυτών που σερβίρουν "συναρπαστικές" ιστορίες. Φυσικά και αυτό είναι χειραγώγηση.
The news that is circulating online and not only that, they seem to need cross-referencing from different sources. You never know where the manipulation will come from. Of course this applies to people who have concerns and do not wish to swallow whole what is served to them.
Marketing Manipulation
Chances are that a piece of you knows very well and has already come to terms with what we will be talking about, but we will go ahead and write it anyway: you are very wrong if you think the advertising industry is promoting things you can buy.
The above information may be in your mind, but we should mention it in this article as a secret that requires a microscopic examination. Many of the things that are advertised in magazines, newspapers and television are a way of life.
Of course you can disagree, but, people are not interested in getting things, if they feel good about themselves. If there is the slightest insecurity, marketing services will use it to their advantage in designing the advertising campaign.
If you are not good with yourself you will try to be good by buying products that will bring rainbows to your living room, the ultimate technology in your kitchen and colorful flying flowers on the gray city streets. We may exaggerate but you will notice that most advertisements focus on exaggeration. Do you really dance when you open a can of soda? or do you giggle when you take a bubble bath?
Simply put, marketing campaigns don't exactly advertise the product, but rather an experience that the product is supposed to offer. This experience is what people are after, even if they never get it. Meanwhile the credit cards they empty.
Marketing is about boosting business and increasing sales. The money involved is really a lot and it is no surprise that you are using the manipulation for a long time. No ethics. Of course, advertisers (always with a group of psychologists) think it's art to sell fairy tales.
Political manipulation
Political manipulation uses influence to make people do things that they would never think of doing. And to put things in place, political manipulation is very different from the use of a boss's power to the workers.
Just as with marketing manipulation, political manipulation tries to persuade a person to do something without really asking for it. In simple terms, the goal of policies should not feel external constraints. In the case of Greece, of course, all means have been used. External coercion, internal coercion, emotional coercion, side threats, promises, fervent, carrot and whip, and of course not to forget the primary surplus.
It often happens that those who are victims of political manipulation are convinced that they choose to behave in their own way and that decisions are made by them. Needless to say, this is not the case.
In a publication of American Journal of Political Sciences A few years ago, researchers showed that political manipulation of people uses lateral fear. So politicians can convince people that the threat is approaching, or that the problem is just around the corner. Nothing else. Only then do they wait for people to react. So the decision will be theirs.
Take the wars, for example. We know that in the event of war, we must take the weapons and begin to put death on the enemy. If we do not do it, we'll get it all over again.
Common people do not want war. They want to continue living their lives, and not be bothered by anyone. Let's see what has happened in America. Political manipulation comes with the idea that the state is just. So much law that can impose its justice around the globe. The way does not matter. Even if weapons are used, it is made for world good and world peace, according to politicians. So the planet gained security forces. Americans give their lives and believe they are securing the world order.
Let's remind that the Patriot Act was first signed by George W. Bush in 2001 and then amended by Barack Obama the 2011. The law significantly restricts the right of the average citizen to privacy.
Prior to September 11, 2001, no one would have passed such a law. At a time when personal security was at stake, the United States did not miss the opportunity to spy on the planet legally, promising to keep it safe.
The article was first published in SoftPedia and modified with personal opinions by George of iGuRu.gr
