The Secret World of Online Puppeteers: Don’t Be Their Dummy!

Image by Alex Yomare from Pixabay

We live in an age where information flows freely, but behind the scenes, a secret world of manipulation thrives. This “secret world” is more than just a metaphor; it’s a yoke of bondage threatening the essence of democratic free-thinking people. Imagine a grand puppet show where unseen puppeteers pull the strings and make the unwitting puppets dance to their tune. Within the digital realm, these puppeteers are bad actors who manipulate people like marionettes and ventriloquist dummies. They are the unseen wraith-like entities who poison people’s minds with a tidal wave of disinformation disseminated by digital sock puppets, all for their agenda.

The Art of Puppetry

Puppetry is an ancient, diverse and masterful form of art where the puppeteer’s talent is to manipulate inanimate puppets to appear as if they act of their own accord and agency. With an uncanny similarity to the real-world version of the puppet master, online puppeteers skillfully and reflexively influence people into doing their bidding while remaining hidden behind the curtain of anonymity. It is a complicated, convoluted and deeply nuanced game: let’s break it down and try to make it simpler to understand.

Marionettes: Dancing to Another’s Tune

Marionettes are puppets that are traditionally reflexively controlled by strings or wires connected directly to the puppeteer’s body. In my metaphor, mirroring that physical reflexive control of real-world puppet masters, online puppeteers exert control over their subjects through intriguing virtual conversational threads. Actors socially and psychologically engineer these threads to hook into a person’s psyche by using societal issues: Ireland is for the Irish; Immigrants are taking Irish jobs, we have a housing crisis, and the government gives houses to immigrants while Irish people are homeless. Online communities nurture these grievances in bubbles of confirmation bias until the puppets are mature in their indoctrination. These maturely indoctrinated and manipulated individuals often act out in real-world activities, unwittingly fulfilling the puppeteer’s goals. For instance, we’ve seen where social media discussions led to real-world protests and even violence, all carefully orchestrated to sow discord and division (Institute for Strategic Dialogue, 2023) (Donovan, J., Dreyfuss, E., & Friedberg, B., 2023). Now let’s move on to the next puppet show, shall we?

Ventriloquist Dummies: The Danger of Blind Acceptance

In this digital puppet show, some manipulated people present as ventriloquist dummies. They unquestioningly repeat and repost information ad infinitum without first verifying its accuracy. They fall prey to disinformation, misinformation and manipulation easily. These individuals neglect critical thinking out of intellectual laziness or blind trust. In an era of overwhelming information, it is imperative to practice insight, critical and rational thinking. It is crucial to use our own voice and not become mere echoes of others’ voices. If we do not use our own voice, it may become lost in the cacophony of disinformation we consume.

Sock Puppets, AI and Deepfakes: The Digital Legion

Perhaps the most insidious of all is the digital legion of sock puppets, AI, and deepfake technology. Deepfake technology uses generative AI to seamlessly add content to videos and photos to make them look as if those added elements were always there.

With sock puppets, a single entity controls numerous fake accounts. These virtual puppets flood the digital landscape, spreading misinformation and extreme views (The Guardian, 2023) (PBS Newshour, 2023). AI, acting as a superspreader, is capable of creating masses of disinformation with blinding speed, enhancing the reach and impact of these manipulative tactics.

Deepfake technology, a specific and alarming form of AI, can incorporate your face and voice into videos of other people, such as in a pornographic context (PBS Newshour, 2023). If the malicious use of deepfake technology does not phase you, consider its broader implications. Think of political campaigns where bot networks, employing these same principles, attempt to sway public opinion.

These digital entities exploit our cognitive biases and target vulnerable individuals, creating a distorted reality that can have real-world consequences. Consequences like the end of democracy and the meteoric rise of authoritarianism are not mere spectres but tangible threats in this digital age.

Defending Your Agency

In a world where information is power, we must arm ourselves against manipulation. Don’t be a puppet on someone else’s stage. Question the information you encounter, fact-check before sharing, and be sceptical of repetitive narratives. By recognizing the tactics of online puppeteers, we can regain control of our agency and protect the integrity of our information landscape.

The secret realm of online puppeteers exists, and their manipulation tactics are cunning. By understanding their methods and actively resisting their influence, we can break free from their bondage and become guardians of truth in the digital age. Disinformation and misinformation are at epidemic levels online. Education, critical thinking and fact-checking innoculate against infection.

Remember, it’s not about distrusting everything but about being a critical thinker and an empowered individual. Stand up for your rights: stand up for your agency, question the narratives, and don’t let anyone pull your strings. Own your agency! Educate yourself and your community on the realities of online life, both the benefits and the dangers.

Reference List:

1. Institute for Strategic Dialogue. (2023). Migrants and asylum seekers in Ireland are at risk because of trending TikTok videos. Retrieved August 17, 2023, from https://www.isdglobal.org/digital_dispatches/anti-migrant-tiktok-videos-trending-in-ireland/
2. The Guardian. (2023). sock puppets, twitterjacking and the art of digital fakery. Retrieved August 17, 2023, from https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/sep/29/sock-Puppets-twitterjacking-digital-fakery
3. PBS Newshour. (2023). Women face new sexual harassment with deepfake pornography. Retrieved August 17, 2023, from https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/women-face-new-sexual-harassment-with-deepfake-pornography
4. Donovan, J., Dreyfuss, E., & Friedberg, B. (2023). Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America. Bloomsbury USA. https://www.amazon.com/Meme-Wars-Battles-Upending-Democracy/dp/1635578639/ref=sr_1_1?crid=E0ITWLQ4ZMN2&keywords=meme+wars&qid=1692265686&sprefix=meme+wars%2Caps%2C232&sr=8-1