Researchers have shown that when people see a wall of comments saying the same thing over and over again, they tend to believe the rhetoric.
It is no secret that Pauline Hanson’s popularity amongst some Australians has increased – anywhere between 12% and 25% depending on the poll.
It is no coincidence that social media is currently being flooded by a bot-style pile-on designed to make it look like there is a huge backlash against the incumbent government and that Pauline has some political integrity. And it is not confined to just Pauline.
It is no secret that I am passionate about challenging what appears to me to be political rubbish and the scientific disinformation currently flooding social media, especially on Facebook.
It is no coincidence that I am receiving so many alerts from my cyber security provider about attempted suspect infiltration of my computer; and it is no coincidence that I am receiving a plethora of Facebook ‘feeds’ gleaned, presumably, from their political interest-based algorithms.
At first glance, these ‘feeds’ look like clever satire that stimulates a good laugh. But on closer inspection, a pattern emerges. They are all using confected sensationalistic headlines, extreme hyperbolic language and disinformation, and obvious AI-altered or AI-generated photographs – all promoting alt-right would-be political leaders while slinging mud and ridicule at the incumbent Government, albeit without any factual base.
Most alarmingly, the emerging pattern shows links to foreign alt-right global political “influencers”. Many are posted from the US but not necessarily originating from there. Others appear to be from Israel, India, Poland and even Ukraine. All, it appears, are trying to influence and infiltrate Australian politics from abroad, and all are difficult to find any real information on.
Swim Life, Swimming Times, Swim United, Rugal, Israel Moss, The Australian Net, Margaret 211, On Scene News, News 1st Daily, Foxxholics (who claim they “don’t chase rumours” but obviously invent them), Top Spin America, Voices of the Nation, True Rumours (a private bot company), Morning Coffee, JewFacts, UNOZ, and Real Housewives BH Forever appear to be just some of the protagonists of interest – for me at least!
The big question remains: Do Australians need or want foreign political influencers to advise them on who to vote for at the next Federal election? Or are we smart enough, well informed enough, and mature enough to make our own choices?
Got something on your mind? Go on then, engage. Submit your opinion piece, letter to the editor, or Quick Word now.