Internet as a Tool of Propaganda Spreading Official Information That Leads to Mind Control - Essay Example

Propaganda Name Course Name and Code Instructor’s Name Date Introduction Propaganda according to Leslie (1971, p. 21) refers to the communication of a peace of information with an objective of influencing the perception of a group of people as far as a certain issue is concerned. Propaganda can also be expressed as the collective attitudes which are presented in the form of manipulative but very significant tools. Propaganda it itself is made up of complete information but molded in such a way that it will influence the attitude of the listener, hearer or the entire audience. In most cases facts in propaganda are given out selectively in that some details which are very important are omitted and substituted with some false information so as to achieve an emotional response from the audience instead of a rational one. For example, the use of propaganda promotes a state of disapproval of a given idea or even creates a negative point of view concerning an issue. In actual sense, propaganda differ very mush from any normal means of passing a message or even communicating information in that it is insidiously presented and not in a subtle form (Gottleib, 1992, p. 23). Propaganda is usually presented in such a way that it will definitely create some form of negative or strong emotions. In most cases propaganda promotes concepts which have no logic in them. Among the many form of media spreading propaganda that are in existence, internet is rated as one the best form in as far as persuasiveness is concerned. Therefore, internet and television as a form of media will effectively pass across a message which can easily lead to control of mind. Internet as a tool of propaganda spreading official information that leads to mind control Internet has been discovered to be one of the main propaganda spreading tools in media. It has also been rated as one of the main tool causing mind control in many people. This is because it entails all forms of mass communication. What it means in that for instance, while a radio makes use of hearing sense to convey the message and a printed material uses the sense of sight only among others, the internet goes beyond one sense (Nicholas, 2004, p. 19). It can use the sense of sight, sense of hearing and even involve the views feelings and emotions. Therefore, it is in a position to place the viewer in a point of immediate creation of illusions and somehow making him or her participate even without knowledge. As societies embrace modernity, brainwashing is very much evident due to the issue of mind control but in a more diligent means of persuasion, for the example, the use of propaganda by the western community to influence the thinking of societies in third world countries. Internet in this modern world is being used to feed people with information they are in need of but tailored in a way that it will highly influence their thinking (James, 1994, p. 74). This is especially applied when relaying messages on key issues like political burning subjects. Internet as a form of media is known to have a great influence in the viewer’s emotions as well as the thoughts. It is so obvious that still any approach used to spread any form of propaganda can efficiently and effectively reach the audience in such an insidious form (Nicholas, 2004, p. 18). This can be explained by the fact that any means of propaganda can be passed through from its origin to the audience in an implicit form. Propaganda thus can be passed in a form of debate or a great argument to the recipient even without their knowledge. This can be associated with the manner in which the media relays its information when broadcasting advertisements, programmes and even the news. This has been known to create a great deal of mind control in the viewers. Such situations and many others have in the past been known to cause a great influence in some important happenings in different countries like during elections where the election of some leaders is basically as a result of contributions made by the media. This happens after a number of people make decisions on the basis of the picture the media portrays (Leslie, 1971, p. 98). Moreover, some wars are as a result of people’s mind set being controlled by what the media feeds them with. In the current days, the use of internet as a means of gaining important information is highly increasing. It is so unfortunate that it is still one of the most means to convey very damaging information in as far as mind control is concerned. This is because of its effectiveness in placing the viewer in an illusion that seems to be a real participation in an event. Therefore, propaganda is in a position to be greatly spread through the internet. Propaganda does not have to be necessary a false statement as (Gottleib, 1992, p. 43) noted For the example, in a scenario whereby a piece of information bearing with it all the needed facts, but presented in a biased way is definitely a propaganda. This is because it will leave some impacts in the way the viewer analyses it. It should also be noted that propaganda should carry a great possibility of being heard by many people. Therefore, for it to achieve such, internet is the most appropriate means to be used to relay it since many people can be reached hence achieving its main objective of controlling the mind set of so many people. The element of repletion in propaganda spreading is very important. This is why; any one seeking to propagate something has to seek for the most efficient and effective way to influence the thinking of other people through deriving a way to reach as many people as possible. A communicated message basically containing an element of persuasion in form of coercive, with definitely lead to the receiver’s change of mind hence achieving mind control. The use of internet has thus achieved that in a great way. This is because the use of some well moderated systems, with a great coercive influence as far as human mind control is concerned has been very effective in achieving deception to the viewers. For example, in the issues of politics, such influences and manipulations have been used by politicians to achieve their personal objective. So as to achieve that, many televising programmes have been created. These programmes are presented in such a way that they will capture the viewer’s attention. Then to add salt on that, they are shown in a longer period and in repetitive manner (Gottleib, 1992, p. 51). Since the emergence of the internet technology, many governments have embraced the technology as a one the most rightful means of media to convey information across the country. This is because it of the speed with which it conveys the information. Internet broad casts can really reach so many people as fast as possible and especially the targeted population because of the fact that the transmitted events or information can be instantly received. The government can achieve that by using the most watched programmes like news. As we all know, many people would rather miss any other programme but get to watch news so as to be updated on the current issues. So the government has taken advantage of that fact where need be to control the mind of people. In most cases some channels, which accommodate a talk-show in the middle of the news broadcast are used. This is whereby; a respected official in the government is welcomed on bold with an interview to discuss a key issue. The same kind of mind control has been seen in the passing of public advertisement whereby, the advisement come up in the midst of the news broadcast when many people are viewing (Leslie, 1971, p. 121). This has attained a great deal of influence or mind control, attitudes and beliefs in such a nation. Although there are so many ways of delivering propaganda, the rate at which the internet technology is growing and its demand has favored its use. This is whereby, most official information are being relayed through the internet compared to other form of media. Again, internet has been found to bring about the aspect of unification. This is whereby; it brings so many people in different areas together when they view the same things at the same time though in different places. These people are visually exposed to the same ideas as well as concepts at the same time. This also explains why, internet is emerging as one of the main ways propaganda from the governments is being passed to the people through the means of the internet. In such a way many people’s mind can be controlled for example, when reading the news pertain government reports or even when analyzing some historic events trough the use of internet as a form of media transmission. The government can also achieve a great of progress in its entire plan by simply using internet to convey propaganda. This is through the use of an approach that will achieve a total control of a given population mind set. The approach can be like the use of a very little transmission which then slowly by slowly is turned into a very huge transmission. For example, in the process of some great historic developments, propaganda campaigns have been used through a certain form of strategy or pattern of transmission. Through that, a lot of doctrines which are even false have been delivered to the people by the government hence controlling their minds (Leslie, 1971, p. 88). Internet is one of the means through which a mind control can be imposed. Therefore any propaganda passed by such a means can effectively achieve its objectives. Something either destructive or constructive can be passed to the entire society by such a means. This explains why most of the government prefers internet as the best media to relay information to the people. Internet has the ability to reach so many people at the same time hence influencing their mind set, opinions and also views at the same time. This is why most of the government and also official organizations have been found to use it in their process of promoting and enlightening people concerning some policies, also in the process of promoting some laws and regulations targeted to some specific communities (Stanley, 2002, p. 7). This mostly is done when the government is in a mission of erasing or changing the mind set or perception of the people in the community. The famous writer George Orwell actually came up very many renowned quotes on the relationship between mind control and propaganda. Such aspect was deeply illustrated in the novel he wrote which has exhaustively explained how propaganda had caused mind control in the year 1949. This point of view has actually remained to be termed true up to date. It has also able to draw a picture of what Winston Smith believe in (James, 1998, p. 14). his believe had effectively and efficiently had the control on the actions and thoughts in the state through the use of propaganda in conjunction with secrecy as a mean of performing surveillance. Also a great number of hurting punishments were used. In one of the most noted and significant quote that he gave: that to confess is not a sure way of achieving betrayal, because in actual sense, what is said does not really matter but what really matters and counts is what one feels. This then is one of the ways of confirming the fact that the promotion or spreading of any form of propaganda can actually result to the achievement of some kind of understanding that words can not portray and only one’s feelings can Conclusion Many forms of advancing propaganda have emerged as the technology keeps changing, for example the use of internet. Besides that form of technology the internet and mobile phones have been very effective and efficient means of spreading propaganda very fast. That is why so many forms of official messages or piece of information known to have affected a certain mind set of people have been said to be received through such form of communication. The government therefore, has really maximized the use of internet to pass its official message to the people hence achieving some degree of their mind control. Reference Gottleib, E, (1992). The Orwell Conundrum: a cry of despair or faith in the spirit of man? New York: Penguin Books. James,W. (1998). Media communication: an introduction to theory and process. London: Palgrave Macmillan. Leslie, J. (171). Propaganda affairs. Chicago: University of Chicago. Nicholas, O’shaaughnessy. Politics and propaganda: weapons of mass seduction. Manchester : Manchester University Press 2004. Stanley, C. (2002). The idea of propaganda: a reconstruction. Greenwood: Greenwood Publishing Group. Read More