Recently, a common trend on TikTok is listing “propaganda” that the creator will not believe. Lists include items such as high gas prices, hook up culture or animal print clothing.
While many of these videos are jokes made by creators, propaganda is defined as the dissemination of false or partially incorrect information to influence public opinion. Historically, this meant convincing a nation that genocide is acceptable rather than what colored shoes is popular or not.
Propaganda has its origins in the ancient world with ancient Greeks utilizing oratory propaganda, the Catholic Church creating the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith in 1600s and the Spanish Armada after their defeat by Britain to paint their loss in a more favorable light.
Modern propaganda became a common word in the 1910s due to World War I (WWI). It can be presented in various forms, such as banners, slogans, insignia, hair styles and many others.
Propaganda has grown in influence due to fascists and communists such as Hitler and Mussolini. They utilized newer technologies to spread their “selfish” ideals.
However, these groups are not the only ones to blame. Democratic governments thrive on propaganda as well. Elected officials require votes of constituents, whether that be a few thousand in their town to be mayor or millions to become the United States president. Each candidate creates a slogan and writes a narrative to appeal to public opinion. While every candidate may not be falsifying their campaigns, each of them is not entirely truthful either.
Another example of propaganda is wartime slogans. For instance, Rosie the Riveter encourages, “We can do it!” and Uncle Sam points at the viewer telling them “I want you!” Each of these were created to establish a positive view of war and encourage citizens to join the effort.
When encountering propaganda, the American Historical Association suggests following one of the two tests to judge the truthfulness of the message by asking:
- Is it really propaganda? Is some individual or group consciously trying to influence opinion and action? Who? For what purpose?
- Is it true? Does a comparison of independent reports show that the facts are accurate? Does such a comparison show that the suggestions made are soundly based?
Propaganda has had various negative impacts on history, such as perpetuating genocide, ethnic cleansing and general warfare. Utilizing critical thinking, as explained in the tests from the AHA, can assist in creating an opinion apart from the messages pushed by governments or corporations.
