Denmark’s 3-step method
If you’re reading this, you probably think of yourself as a savvy digital citizen. Most of us can spot the more obvious online scams and misinformation. But what if the manipulation isn’t coming from a clumsy scammer, but rather from sophisticated actors trying to change how you see the world?
Earlier today, the Danish Agency for Social Security launched a campaign called “Who shapes your opinions?” It’s a fascinating breakdown of how foreign powers utilize misinformation campaigns to leverage our own psychology against us. It’s not just about “fake news” but about a deeper understanding of human nature and communication.
Many nations, including large countries such as Russia and China, have state-operated media or heavily regulated media. And we’re currently witnessing a media blackout or near blackout in Iran, for example.
While the Danish campaign’s press release does not mention the United States by name, the effort is easily seen as a response to the U.S. government in particular. Efforts by Washington to annex Greenland, a Danish territory, have been met with concern in Denmark and the NATO countries generally.
“Protect yourself and our democracy by being critical of what you read and hear. The harder you are to manipulate, the stronger we are.”
Danish Agency for Social Security
So here are some of the most eye-opening highlights from the Danish government’s guide.
1. Emotional Hijacking
Have you ever seen a headline that made your blood boil or left you feeling deeply anxious? That’s not an accident. One of the primary tools of manipulation is the emotional hook.
Misinformation feeds off high-arousal emotions like anger, fear, and indignation. When we are emotional, our brain logic can take a backseat to our emotions, making us much more likely to hit share without checking the facts.
Since social media algorithms are designed to reward engagement, the more provocative a story is, the farther it generally spreads. If a post makes you want to scream or cry, that’s your signal to slow down and evaluate what you’re consuming.
In addition to self-defense, the Danish government says critical reading also helps protect democracy itself: “Protect yourself and our democracy by being critical of what you read and hear. The harder you are to manipulate, the stronger we are.”
2. Repetition’s Insidious Power
Purveyors of misinformation know that simply hearing a lie multiple times makes people more likely to believe it’s true. This psychological phenomenon is called the “illusory truth effect.”
Manipulators use bot networks and fake profiles to repeat the same narrative across different platforms. So when you see the same so-called fact mentioned in various places, like a comment, a shared post, and a meme, for example, your brain begins to flag it as credible.
Media manipulators also use a practice called micro-targeting, meaning tailoring stories to fit the specific values and biases of different groups. By telling us exactly what we already believe and want to hear, they bypass our natural skepticism.
3. “Trusted Friend” Traps
This is perhaps the most devious tactic of online misinformation peddlers. A misleading story is far more effective when it comes from someone you know.
When a stranger posts something radical, you’re likely to ignore the information or find it suspicious. But when your aunt or a former colleague shares it, you’re more receptive and your guard drops. Foreign actors count on these “ordinary people,” as in non-journalists, to do their heavy lifting.
By getting well-meaning users to share fabricated content, agitators cloak their deception in a layer of social trust. Once a story is circulating within a friend group, it becomes much harder to debunk.
4. Deepfakes
The Vær Kritisk (Be Critical) guide also highlights the evolving role of technology, specifically Artificial Intelligence. We are past the era of poorly Photoshopped images. With AI, manipulators can now create realistic videos, voices, and photos that depict people and behaviors that never took place in the tangible, non-digital world.
These deepfakes are designed to go viral, often showing public figures saying or doing things that spark outrage. In the digital world, seeing is no longer believing.
How to Stay Critical: The 3-Step Filter
The good news? The media-consuming public isn’t powerless. The Danish government’s guide suggests a simple three-step approach to protect your digital well-being:
- Stop: When you encounter a story that triggers a strong reaction, pause. Give yourself time to shift from your emotional response to a logical evaluation of the claims.
- Think Twice: Ask yourself: Who, if anyone, benefits if I share this? Does this story contribute to a constructive dialogue or is it just provoking division?
- Check the Source: Is this from a recognized news outlet with editorial standards or, for example, a little-known source with suspicious or unclear authorship? Check if the story is being reported by other, more reliable sources.
As these steps suggest, digital manipulation isn’t just a tech problem but a human one. And in online spaces, particularly those that are highly unregulated, the public can’t expect the tech platforms themselves to fact check accurately and thoroughly.
Of course, the 3-step method is more of an outline. Carefully checking the news media for accuracy can be a more complicated and intensive effort.
But by understanding the psychological tricks used to influence us, we can reclaim some level of control over our social feeds and sources. More importantly, knowledge helps reduce the spread of misinformation and helps protect online and offline communities from potential conflicts. 🟦
AI-assisted Image: Louis Caravella x Gemini.
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