The Power of Propaganda & Psychological Warfare

Summary

This video delves into the history and impact of psychological warfare and propaganda, highlighting their evolution from ancient times to the modern cyber age. It explores how these tactics have been used to manipulate public opinion and affect morale during conflicts, from World War I and II to the Cold War and contemporary social media. The video underscores the enduring power of psychological operations and the challenges they pose in the digital era.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Social media has become a significant part of modern warfare, serving as a platform for the dissemination of information and propaganda.
• 🧠 Psychological warfare targets the mind rather than the body, aiming to manipulate the emotions and perceptions of the enemy.
• 📚 Historically, psychological warfare has been used throughout various conflicts, with techniques evolving over time to adapt to new technologies and media.
• 📈 The concept of psychological warfare has its roots in ancient military strategies, such as those described by Sun Tzu in 'The Art of War'.
• 🎭 Propaganda, a key tool in psychological warfare, has been used to shape public opinion, influence morale, and control the narrative during wars.
• 🔍 World War I and II saw significant use of propaganda by governments to rally support for the war effort and to demoralize the enemy.
• 📰 Edward Bernays, a pioneer in public relations, rebranded propaganda as public relations, using psychological techniques to influence the masses.
• 📢 The Cold War era saw the use of psychological warfare expand into the realm of mass media, with both the United States and the Soviet Union employing various tactics to sway public opinion.
• 🌐 The internet and social media have transformed the landscape of psychological warfare, allowing for rapid and widespread dissemination of information and disinformation.
• 🔎 The effectiveness of psychological operations depends on a deep understanding of the target audience's culture, language, and history.

Q & A

What is psychological warfare and how does it differ from traditional warfare?

Psychological warfare targets the mind of the enemy rather than their physical body. It aims to manipulate the emotions, attitudes, and beliefs of the target audience to influence their behavior without the use of physical force.

How did Sun Tzu's philosophy contribute to the concept of psychological warfare?

Sun Tzu emphasized the importance of deception in warfare, stating that all warfare is based on deception. His philosophy laid the groundwork for psychological and guerrilla warfare, suggesting that a smaller force could defeat a larger one through strategic manipulation.

What role did Edward Bernays play in the development of modern propaganda and public relations?

Edward Bernays, a pioneer in the field of public relations, rebranded propaganda as public relations to avoid negative connotations. He used his uncle Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theories to manipulate public opinion and consumer behavior, shaping modern advertising and political campaigns.

How did World War I change the landscape of psychological warfare?

World War I saw the rise of government-funded propaganda campaigns, such as the British use of sensational journalism and the U.S. Committee on Public Information, which used various media to shape public opinion in favor of war efforts.

What is the significance of the term 'Persian Immortal Guards' in the context of psychological warfare?

The Persian Immortal Guards were known for creating a perception of invincibility by removing their dead from the battlefield, thus never showing a fallen soldier. This tactic contributed to their reputation and served as an early example of psychological warfare.

How did Nazi Germany use psychological warfare during World War II?

Nazi Germany extensively used propaganda to create a cult of personality around Adolf Hitler, manipulate public opinion, and stoke nationalistic fervor. They also used psychological warfare techniques to justify their actions and mislead the public about their military intentions.

What is the 'Ghost Tape 10' operation, and how was it used in the Vietnam War?

The 'Ghost Tape 10' was a psychological warfare operation during the Vietnam War where eerie sounds and altered voices of supposed slain Vietcong soldiers were played through loudspeakers to instill fear and encourage desertion. Its success was mixed due to the Vietcong's awareness that it was a recording.

How has the advent of the internet and social media impacted modern psychological warfare?

The internet and social media have enabled the spread of psychological operations and disinformation on a mass scale. Misleading photographs, memes, and unverified stories can be rapidly disseminated, making it easier for psychological warfare to reach a wide audience.

What is the 'Ghost of Kiev' and how did it function as war propaganda?

The 'Ghost of Kiev' was a piece of war propaganda that emerged after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It involved rumors of a mythical fighter pilot who was credited with shooting down multiple enemy aircraft, serving as a morale boost for the Ukrainian population.

How do internet memes relate to psychological warfare and propaganda?

Internet memes can be used as a modern form of propaganda, targeting specific groups to build solidarity and influence attitudes. Their effectiveness depends on cultural and linguistic understanding of the target audience, making them a powerful tool in digital persuasion.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 The Power of Psychological Warfare and Propaganda

This paragraph introduces the concept of psychological warfare and propaganda, especially in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It discusses how social media has become a new battlefield, with information from various sources influencing global opinion. The paragraph emphasizes that while war is often seen as physical, psychological warfare targets the mind, aiming to exploit insecurities and desires. It mentions the historical development of psychological warfare, referencing Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' and the use of deception in warfare. The paragraph also touches on the evolution of psychological warfare through history, including the use of propaganda in World War I and the impact of media moguls like Alfred Harmsworth and government agencies like the Creel Committee in shaping public opinion.

05:02

📢 The Manipulation of Public Opinion

This section delves into the manipulation of public opinion through propaganda, as exemplified by the Committee on Public Information during World War I and the rise of Edward Bernays, who rebranded propaganda as public relations. Bernays, influenced by his uncle Sigmund Freud, used psychoanalytic principles to influence the masses, creating campaigns that could sway public opinion and consumer behavior. The paragraph also discusses the darker side of propaganda, as seen in the Nazi regime's use of it to create a cult of personality around Hitler, leading to catastrophic consequences. It highlights the importance of understanding the psychological impact of words and how they can be used as weapons in warfare.

10:03

💬 The Evolution of Propaganda Techniques

This paragraph explores the evolution of propaganda techniques, from the use of leaflet bombs in World War II to the psychological warfare campaigns during the Cold War. It discusses how language and psychological manipulation were used to alter enemy perceptions and exploit cultural differences. The paragraph also touches on the ethical considerations of such operations, such as 'Operation Wandering Soul' during the Vietnam War, which used cultural superstitions to demoralize the enemy. The discussion includes the challenges of understanding the target audience and the importance of cultural sensitivity in propaganda.

15:05

🌐 Disinformation in the Cyber Age

This section examines the impact of the internet and social media on psychological warfare and propaganda. It discusses how disinformation and doctored media can spread rapidly, influencing public opinion and societal views during conflicts. The paragraph highlights the 'Ghost of Kiev' as an example of modern war propaganda and how internet memes have become a new form of propaganda, capable of building tribal bonds and influencing political views. It emphasizes the importance of cultural and linguistic understanding in the effectiveness of digital propaganda and the challenges of navigating the cyber age's global information system.

20:07

🔮 The Future of Psychological Warfare

The final paragraph reflects on the enduring power of psychological warfare and the methods of persuasion used by experts like Edward Bernays. It suggests that as technology advances, these tactics will become more subtle and harder to detect. The paragraph concludes by inviting viewers to consider the implications of psychological warfare and propaganda on society and history, hinting at the need for continued vigilance and understanding in the face of evolving tactics.

Keywords

💡Psychological Warfare

Psychological warfare refers to the use of psychological manipulation and tactics to influence the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors of an individual or group. In the context of the video, it is discussed as a weapon used during times of war, aiming at the insecurities and desires of its targets to achieve objectives. The video mentions how psychological warfare has been employed throughout history, from Sun Tzu's philosophies to modern-day conflicts, emphasizing its effectiveness in shaping perceptions and behaviors.

💡Propaganda

Propaganda is a form of communication aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position. The video script discusses propaganda as a tool of psychological warfare, used to mislead and manipulate public opinion. It is highlighted in the context of World War I and II, where it was used to rally support for war efforts and to demoralize enemy forces. The video also connects modern propaganda to social media, indicating its ongoing relevance.

💡Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu was a Chinese military general and philosopher, renowned for his work 'The Art of War.' In the video, his philosophy is mentioned as foundational to psychological warfare, particularly his emphasis on deception as a strategic element in warfare. Sun Tzu's five fundamentals to the art of war are also discussed, which include factors like weather, terrain, and discipline, illustrating his comprehensive approach to military strategy.

💡Disinformation

Disinformation is deliberately false or misleading information spread with the intent to deceive. The video script uses the term in the context of Cold War tactics, where disinformation was used to mislead decision-makers and manipulate public opinion. It is noted as a key aspect of psychological warfare, with the video providing examples of how disinformation campaigns can be designed to influence beliefs and actions.

💡Morale

Morale refers to the confidence, enthusiasm, and fighting spirit of an individual or group. In the video, morale is discussed as a critical factor in psychological warfare, where operations aim to lower enemy morale while boosting that of one's own forces. The video provides examples of how propaganda and psychological operations can be used to undermine morale, such as through the use of 'Ghost Tape 10' in the Vietnam War.

💡Cultural Understanding

Cultural understanding is the comprehension of a particular culture's values, beliefs, and customs. The video emphasizes the importance of cultural understanding in the creation of effective propaganda and psychological operations. It is highlighted as crucial for crafting messages that resonate with the target audience, as misunderstandings can lead to ineffective or counterproductive outcomes, as seen in the examples of leaflet propaganda during World War II.

💡Social Media

Social media is a collective term for websites and applications which focus on interaction and communication between individuals in a virtual community. The video discusses the role of social media as a modern battlefield for psychological warfare, where information and disinformation can be rapidly disseminated to global audiences. It notes the impact of social media on public opinion and the potential for it to be used for manipulation and propaganda.

💡Memes

Memes are ideas, behaviors, or styles that spread from person to person within a culture. In the video, memes are described as a modern form of propaganda, used to influence attitudes and beliefs through humor and shared cultural references. The video suggests that memes can be powerful tools for persuasion, capable of shaping public opinion and group identity, especially when they resonate with the cultural and linguistic understanding of the target audience.

💡Edward Bernays

Edward Bernays was a pioneer in the field of public relations and is often referred to as the 'father of public relations.' The video discusses Bernays' work in rebranding propaganda as public relations and his influence on the development of modern advertising and persuasion techniques. His methods are noted as still being relevant today, particularly in the context of psychological warfare and the manipulation of public opinion.

💡Ghost of Kiev

The 'Ghost of Kiev' refers to a rumored Ukrainian fighter pilot credited with shooting down multiple Russian aircraft at the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The video uses this as an example of modern war propaganda, illustrating how stories can spread rapidly on social media and serve to boost morale. It highlights the role of such legends in shaping public perception and emotional responses during conflicts.

Highlights

Psychological warfare and propaganda have become integral parts of modern conflict, leveraging social media to influence global opinion.

Emotions elicited by war are exploited to mislead viewers, highlighting the power of psychological manipulation.

Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' emphasizes deception as a fundamental strategy, influencing modern psychological warfare.

Persian Immortal Guards exemplify ancient psychological tactics by creating an image of invincibility.

World War I saw the rise of propaganda as a tool for mobilizing public opinion, particularly through the work of Alfred Harmsworth.

The Creel Committee in the US was an early example of government-funded propaganda, shaping public sentiment for war.

Edward Bernays, a pioneer in public relations, rebranded propaganda to influence public opinion without scrutiny.

Bernays' methods, influenced by his uncle Sigmund Freud, aimed to manipulate the unconscious mind for mass persuasion.

Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi Minister of Propaganda, utilized Bernays' techniques to create a cult of personality around Hitler.

World War II saw psychological warfare techniques weaponized to an unprecedented degree, including the use of leaflet propaganda.

Leaflet propaganda during WWII exploited soldiers' fears and longings, aiming to alter behavior rather than cause physical harm.

The Cold War was a struggle of ideologies, with psychological operations and disinformation playing a significant role.

Operation Wandering Soul during the Vietnam War used cultural superstitions to demoralize the enemy, raising ethical concerns.

The internet and social media have revolutionized psychological warfare, enabling rapid dissemination of propaganda.

The 'Ghost of Kiev' myth during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine illustrates the power of modern digital propaganda.

Memes have become a contemporary form of propaganda, capable of shaping public opinion and group identity.

Psychological warfare's evolution reflects societal attitudes and the impact of technology on information warfare.

Transcripts

hello everyone inhuman form here today i

wanted to talk to you about

psychological warfare and propaganda

since the start of the russian invasion

of ukraine there has been an explosion

of information on the internet coming

from all sides of the war social

commentary maps and urban legends have

appeared on the screens of viewers from

across the globe proving to the world

that social media has become a part of

the battlefield however since the

brutality and violence of war itself

elicits so much emotion in viewers

it can easily be used to mislead them

into ignoring a commonly employed weapon

during times of war the powerful concept

of psychological warfare

an important part of understanding this

is knowledge of how and why it developed

if you're new here remember to hit

subscribe and let's jump into this topic

[Music]

but there is another very important

phase of warfare

it has as its target

not the body

but the mind of the enemy

psychological warfare in its most

successful form is the inability of

those being targeted to defend

themselves against the effects of

psychological manipulation during war

psychological warfare aims at the

insecurities and desires of its targets

and uses these as a means of achieving

objectives

for psychological warfare and its media

of expression are dynamic always

learning sure ways of breaking the

spirit of the enemy in the front line

saiwar

works against the enemy's morale

to make him suspicious of his officers

throughout history philosophers and

military theorists have written about

the physical aspects of war in great

detail many of these philosophers have

also been concerned with the political

economic and psychological components of

war

chinese military general and philosopher

sun tzu spoke of the five fundamentals

to the art of war which are of vital

importance these included the weather

and terrain of the battlefield as well

as the methods and level of discipline

in one's military force

constant awareness of these five

fundamental factors or the absence of

awareness could be the determining

factor in life or death

although they may escape injury many

will show varying degrees of

non-effectiveness

this will be due to the emotional impact

of being exposed to massive physical

destruction and great personal danger

one of the most important tenets of sun

tzu's philosophy was the idea that all

warfare is based on deception this

powerful idea laid down the precepts of

psychological and guerrilla warfare in

which a clever aggressor could defeat a

larger and stronger target through the

use of propaganda

i'm colonel foster i'm going to be your

guide for a short tour through the maze

of communist propaganda

maybe you'll begin to believe some of it

maybe you'll begin to wonder if there

isn't some truth in it

maybe nobody really likes us

maybe the world really thinks we're

imperialistic warmongers maybe

maybe

throughout this video you will see that

sunsu's advice is still followed today

by guerrilla fighters politicians and

even businessmen and women in order to

gain an advantage in the corporate world

an early example of psychological

warfare can be seen in persian immortal

guards the name comes from the fact that

no immortal ever appeared to have died

because they would remove the dead from

the battlefield whether the battle was

won or lost and their enemies never

truly saw a dead immortal according to

ancient historians such as herodotus

they've been said at times to wear a

thin mask over their face which gave

them a faceless menacing look that

contributed to their deathless

reputation

modern psychological warfare has been

known by many other names including

psychological operations political

warfare and even propaganda

historically it had largely been

disparaged and scorned until the 20th

century when it became a fixture of the

state of war at the outbreak of world

war 1 british newspaper publisher alfred

harmsworth gained strong political

influence because of his use of a new

form of journalism that directed its

focus towards the working classes

his primary goal was to galvanize

british public opinion in support of

total war

he did this by publishing sensational

stories containing simple good versus

evil narratives and anti-german

sentiment which heightened tensions in

europe

as world war 1 erupted president of the

united states woodrow wilson following

in the footsteps of the british papers

started one of the earliest examples of

government-funded propaganda an agency

called the committee on public

information otherwise known as the creel

committee the committee used every

medium available to shape public opinion

in favor of america's participation in

the war

the american population who had

originally reflected a strong desire to

stay out of the war were bombarded by

newsprint colorful posters and radio

programs all broadcasting the

committee's pro-war message

journalists and other news sources who

were against the war were buried by the

volume of news put out by the committee

successfully stomping out any opposition

the americans had changed from a peace

minded people into a militant and

warmongering population eager to fight

within six months of the committee's

existence the propaganda efforts of the

committee on public information a

very orwellian name

was

did succeed in driving a pacifist

population into

raving anti-german fanatics you know to

the point where the boston symphony

orchestra couldn't play

beethoven things like that emerging from

the krill committee was an american

business consultant named edward bernays

who would alter the world of

psychological warfare propaganda and

advertising to such a degree that his

methods are still used today

after the end of world war one bernays

had realized that the concept of

propaganda was scrutinized heavily by

the public but he saw it as a tool that

had many uses

observing how effective it was in

shaping the psychology of the masses

bernays rebranded the term propaganda

into public relations in order to avoid

scrutiny and started a public relations

firm

the firm became known for its legendary

campaigns which boosted the business of

major corporations by causing changes in

public opinion bernays was also related

to pioneering psychoanalyst sigmund

freud who was his uncle

this relationship gave bernays work a

veneer of scientific respectability

he provided political leaders

corporations and media outlets with the

means to control and regiment the masses

without their awareness

to do so he told them it was necessary

to appeal not to the rational part of

the mind but the unconscious and they

could do this by using impulsive desires

as a tool to manipulate the masses but

bernay's particular influence was

exactly as you say and

he was one of the founders of the modern

public relations industry which grew

into a massive industry right at that

period had it existed before but it

became

very important after

at this time and its goal was

to control attitudes uh beliefs

uh uh to marginalize people to

induce to drive them towards what were

called

the superficial things of life like

fashionable consumption and

keep them out of the public arena where

they don't belong

bernays was successful in turning

average citizens into mindless consumers

of material goods and media but he

failed to see the destructive potential

in his methods until they fell into the

hands of a totalitarian force that was

emerging in germany in the 1930s

minister of propaganda for the third

reich joseph gibbels was an admirer of

bernays in his work leading up to and

during the war gobbles pushed bernays

ideas to their fullest extent creating a

cult of personality around adolf hitler

and the nazi regime through the use of

propaganda resulting in some of the most

destructive and murderous crimes in

human history

under the control of the nazi party a

new information environment began to

evolve experimental new forms of

propaganda emerged overpowering the

german population with messages designed

to influence their beliefs about german

nationalistic ideals and how they viewed

the world outside of germany

during the first weeks of 1933 the nazi

regime deployed the radio press and

newsreels to stoke fears of a pending

communist uprising then channeled

popular anxieties into political

measures that eradicated civil liberties

and democracy

by the end of the decade in september of

1939 the german army under adolf hitler

launched an invasion of poland that

would mark the beginning of world war ii

to justify the action and mislead the

public nazi propagandists accused poland

of persecuting ethnic germans living in

poland

but there's another force applied in

combat that we generally don't think of

as a weapon of war

that weapon is words

yes in a situation like this words are

weapons

psychological warfare was not a new

concept by world war ii but was

certainly the first time psychology was

weaponized to such a degree

propaganda techniques were used to wear

down enemy forces as well as raising

morale in one's own military force and

on the home front

prior to the war

most aspects of social psychology were

philosophical and the discipline was

simply viewed as philosophy of the mind

but during world war ii governments

began enlisting psychologists for

psychometric testing and psychological

operations giving rise to a systematic

field of research that tested how

certain actions would affect human

behaviors

what is it in your mind when you

couldn't talk

what is it that stopped it

something came through there and stopped

it

what is it now think quickly think

deeply let's go back when was it you

lost your speech had your trouble

talking

go back quickly

what were you doing when the planes came

over

i was in a hole

you know where you are

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psychological warfare campaigns altered

enemy perceptions by deliberately

distorting military significance by

exploiting ethnic and political

differences between populations and by

systematically increasing the stresses

of war through the use of propaganda

in many ways these campaigns displayed

the power of language

and it works in many different ways the

printed word

and the spoken word

one of the simplest yet most powerful

tools in the arsenal of psychological

warfare was the letter bomb a form of

airborne propaganda where military

aircraft would deploy non-explosive

containers which opened in mid-air

dispersing tens of thousands of paper

flyers called leaflets containing simple

messages attempting to alter the

behavior of combatants and

non-combatants in enemy controlled

territory

as a weapon of psychological warfare the

leaflet is invaluable

the leaflet is far more permanent than

the spoken word for it can be read and

re-read

the leaflets had illustrated messages

that would prey on psychological effects

that would haunt soldiers during

extended periods of combat

these included factors like hunger

loneliness and cold temperatures

some common examples of illustrations on

leaflets depicted an unfaithful spouse

back home or a warm home-cooked meal

encouraging military personnel to desert

combat

by exploiting these psychological

factors leaflet propaganda attempted to

focus on suffering rather than death

leaflets were unquestionably effective

during the war but military

psychologists noticed two problems that

emerged military psychiatrist james a.c

brown was quoted saying

propaganda is successful only when

directed at those who are willing to

listen

absorb the information and if possible

act on it and this happens only when the

other side is in a condition of lowered

morale and is already losing the

campaign

the second issue that arose from the

messages on leaflets was a failure to

understand how the target audience best

receives information

leaflet propaganda had to be planned

with great attention to the variables of

the situation at hand including the

culture language and the history of the

target audience which in turn affects

the attitudes and behavior elicited from

the message

for example when attempts to persuade

japanese servicemen to surrender were

unsuccessful due to a language barrier

the message was more effective after

changing the language on the leaflets

from i surrender to ic's resistance

which allowed them to capitalize upon

the concept of saving face

the message being delivered should best

suit the target audience not the

messenger's tastes

miscalculation in this area could lead

to catastrophic effects unintentionally

psychologists and sociologists working

together on research during the second

world war would prove to be an important

part in the development of modern

psychology a development which turned

the interests of researchers after the

war toward a variety of social problems

including issues of gender and racial

prejudice

much like social psychology the study of

psychological warfare would develop in

the years after the war as tensions

between the soviet union and the united

states began to escalate

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the cold war was not primarily a

military conflict but rather a global

struggle of ideologies

in this war of words orchestrated mass

media campaigns and covert psychological

operations were among the weapons of

choice

in the early 1950s president dwight d

eisenhower founded agencies and a large

network of think tanks and research

institutions which were tasked with

developing psychological warfare methods

to compete against the soviet union

as the cold war developed the kgb and

other soviet intelligence agencies began

analyzing the current state of

psychological warfare in the united

states

the reports on u.s foreign propaganda

also included an in-depth analysis of

how strategic psychological

considerations even shaped the process

of policymaking in the united states

although it was determined that western

propaganda and communist propaganda were

not seen as having anything in common

both american and soviet researchers

each accused the opposition of the use

of half-truths and pure fabrications as

the defining characteristic in their

propaganda methods in july 1978 on a day

the paper had not planned to publish a

bizarre edition of the weekly was put

into circulation with articles and

semi-nude photos designed to offend its

conservative and older readership our

readers are mostly middle-aged people

you would never dream of doing kind of

things like that you know the letter

supposedly written by a jewish writer

referring to

our journalist uh uh contributed to the

paper mr hunt as a war criminal not a

war criminal the funny part of it is

that uh when the war ended he was about

18 years old you know

ladislav bittman was deputy director

when he was with czech intelligence

this information can have

a variety of forms it's basically

an information

deliberately

misleading

that is leaked

to deceive the decision makers in the

united states or germany or britain or

it can be a disinformation

to deceive

the public opinion you've got to be

fairly

good at this when you're with czech

intelligence didn't you

unfortunately i have to admit yes

in both countries the cold war as a

global ideological conflict was an

important kickstarter for exploring the

functions and effects of mass media and

propaganda in modern society they have

attempted to

make it appear that they are winning a

military victory

their target is american public opinion

and this is the only way they can

conceivably win this war

kantian then you're saying is not really

a military action but a political or

psychological warfare uh precisely

although psychological warfare was

practiced to a greater degree in the

vietnam conflict than in any other war

in history very little has been

published about the operations

among the operations that took place was

a propaganda campaign named operation

wandering soul

like most cultures vietnamese culture

includes beliefs and rituals that show

respect for the dead

one of the most interesting

superstitions of vietnam is the belief

in the wandering soul it is the

vietnamese belief that the dead must be

buried in their homeland or their soul

will wander aimlessly in pain and

suffering

in attempt to increase desertion and

defections from the vietcong forces and

weaken their morale u.s engineers spent

weeks recording eerie sounds and altered

voices which act like roles of slain

vietcong soldiers

the tape code named ghost tape 10 was

amplified through loudspeakers in areas

of vietcong activity in the dead of the

night

the success of ghost tape 10 was mixed

because the vietcong soldiers knew it

was merely a recording but the ethics of

this operation and similar ones have

certainly been called into question

the voice of the united nations carries

on where bullets and shell fire cease

bringing hope to many for the first time

propaganda and psychological warfare

operations would continue to develop in

the 20th century using similar

techniques during the gulf war in the

early 90s

but if you're still with me at this

point i wanted to switch gears and take

a look at how psychological warfare has

impacted the world in more recent years

in the midst of the cyber age the global

system and of course psychological

warfare has changed dramatically in the

years after 9 11. the development of the

internet and social media has enabled

the use of psyops and disinformation on

a mass scale analysts have found

evidence of doctored or misleading

photographs spread through social media

platforms during conflicts like the

syrian civil war and currently one of

the most notable examples of war

propaganda was the ghost of kiev which

came shortly after the russian invasion

of ukraine in february 2022 when

unconfirmed rumors of a mythical fighter

pilot spread like wildfire across social

media crediting the pilot with gunning

down six enemy aircraft within the first

hours of the war the story was observed

to be a major morale boost for the

ukrainian population

internet memes are one of the latest

evolutions of leaflet propaganda and an

effective tool in the arsenal of digital

persuasion

communication experts have observed that

memes can be used to target specific

groups in order to build and solidify

tribal bonds and have been found to be

very effective in doing so

the ease of which memes can be created

and disseminated by anyone with access

to the internet opens doors to

previously unfounded participation with

regard to societal and political issues

similar to their precursor internet

memes success and failures are highly

dependent upon cultural and linguistic

understanding of the target audience

the evolution of psychological warfare

and propaganda can tell us a lot about

history and the general feeling of a

society at a particular time edward

bernays and other psychological experts

methods of persuasion are just as

powerful as when they were first

discovered and will become more

difficult to point out as technology

develops at a rapid pace

there's much more to cover about this

topic but because it's so vast i'll have

to put that in a different video but i

hope you enjoyed this research i'd love

to hear your thoughts on this topic

remember to like subscribe and watch one

of these videos that pop up on your

screen my name is in human form and i'll

see you on the next one

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