I was a victim of propaganda.
My family still are.
It's easy to say, "You could have looked up the facts!" or that "You made a choice!"
But here is actually what happens.
You're an every day, kind, loving citizen who would do anything for your neighbors. You don't go out of your way to hate people, and you're mostly living your life, and not online often or connected a lot.
Then, one day a family member or close friend shares a story with you. 1/x
@quinnsentialOne
Thank you for posting. It’s so true re the havoc algorithms have wreaked.
A personal story: 🧵
I have a beloved kind auntie… she taught me to surf and owns a surf school here in HI and Aus. She’s a very strong smart woman. But she now believes (and I’m being stone cold serious) that a nefarious cabal (the Illuminati) is controlling our climate, global economy, the pandemic (which she believes is a hoax to force us to vax - be controlled by tech) and geo-political decisions.1/4
@quinnsentialOne
🧵
She believes Putin, Biden and Trump are all dead and that they are being portrayed by masked impersonators. She believes the war in Ukraine is about destroying underground infrastructure used to traffic children for use by this nefarious cabal. She sends me random YouTubes and articles that feed this delusion. I always respond with love and respect. I ask her to check her sources and point out why they aren’t trustworthy. 2/4
@quinnsentialOne
🧵
I remind her that I have worked in climate change advocacy since the mid-90s and everything that’s happening now was predicted then. It’s just physics and chemistry. She loves and trusts me so I always see a flicker of truth-recognition when we talk. But it’s just a flicker. It’s gotten to where we don’t venture to those topics anymore… politics, environment, public health… 3/4
@quinnsentialOne
🧵 She visited me from Aus last summer. And, one day at the beach, w/shore break at out feet she asked about life. I told her the last 3 years have taught me a lot about unconditional love. She looked me in the eye, asked if I love her unconditionally. I said “YES. Always.” Then we hugged, both of us w/tears.
This is what algorithm-driven SM has done. We have to be resilient warriors of unconditional love to have a chance at overcoming it.
Thanks for letting me share. 4/4
@TiarePalau Thank you for sharing this. ❤️
I hope, someday, she comes finds her way out of that bubble.
It's good for her to have someone like you, who keeps trying.
@quinnsentialOne
Thank you. 🙏🏽💕… I hope she does too… and I won’t stop trying. 🌺