How Propaganda Works Today

Old propaganda was posters and radio. New propaganda is TikTok edits, podcast tours, fake grassroots Facebook groups, and bot replies.

Astroturf mimics organic support—same slogan accounts born yesterday.

State actors target divisions already present; they do not invent all anger.

Defenses: check account age, reverse image search, read outlet funding, delay share 24 hours on explosive claims.

Democratic resilience needs local journalism funding, not only individual skepticism.

Satire illiteracy spreads propaganda accidentally—label jokes.

Emotional-manipulation-spotting is practical companion.