Thread by @LuluLemew, Lesson 1: RAGE Fine. will u listen to an info warfare expert?Posting [...]

Lesson 1: RAGE
Fine. will u listen to an info warfare expert?

Posting content to denounce it, either because it is false or makes you angry, amplifies it and expands its reach. The rage-engage cycle is a key part of how malign narratives gain traction .. https://standuprepublic.com/what-lessons-havent-we-learned-since-2016/

What lessons haven’t we learned since 2016? Lesson 1: RAGE - Stand Up Republic

Since the realization that foreign and domestic disinformation played a central role in driving certain narratives during the 2016 elections, many Americans have tried to grapple with what this...

https://standuprepublic.com/what-lessons-havent-we-learned-since-2016/

What haven’t we learned since 2016?

“...disinformation content is designed to be polarizing so that you engage with it...” — @MollyMcKew

The RAGE-ENGAGE Cycle:

The RAGE-ENGAGE Cycle is
“how basically everyone ended up amplifying a video intentionally edited to elicit a specific reflexive anger response — a video posted by a sketchy account that was later suspended.”

#RAGE_ENGAGE Cycle is...
“...how the hashtag “NeverWarren” trended — driven by the people who were against the idea as much as those who were for it.”

“During the 2016 election cycle, both WikiLeaks and Russia’s Internet Research Agency troll farm created controversial hashtags that they knew would be engaged and trended by people who disagreed with them — because again, rage is good business sense in the engagement economy.”

“...a quick google search will yield countless “social marketing strategies” tip blogs that offer advice on how to exploit anger to gain an audience. Misinformation content is also big business, pulling ad revenues away from real media outlets.” #informationwarfare

#Rage_engage cycle
“So, what can you do ..?
Understand the role you play as an individual in incentivizing & fueling disinformation & corrosive content. Don’t click the outrageous story link. Don’t rage-post. Leave content that is toxic alone. Yes, this includes [Trump’s] tweets”

“Break the rage-engage incentive by not engaging content when you are angry about it.

Always ask first what the purpose of that content is.

Be aware of the source of inflammatory content, especially videos. If you don’t know where it came from, leave it alone.”

“If there is a tweet, article, post, or video you feel it is important to comment on, take screenshots instead of replying, retweeting/reposting, or linking. This breaks the amplification.

Don’t use hashtags when you disagree with them, or else you are just helping them trend.”

“Don’t retweet or engage accounts that are known amplifiers and generators of disinformation...”
yes, DT & minions
“When you directly engage them to say they are wrong, you are doing their work for them by giving them an algorithmic incentive and boost.”

“If you feel it is important to comment on false or inflammatory content, instead of pithy statements, try explaining ...what it wants you to believe versus what is actually true. Giving people the “why” is powerful. It helps us question .. that ...content, [and] future content.”

“Consider unfollowing, muting, or blocking people who you believe to be consistent purveyors of deceptive narrative and information. Downtrend and disincentivize.”

“Takeaway: Choose your battles; push back on content or narratives with methods that don’t elevate the original content. Breaking the engagement models can disincentivize feedback loops and the disinformation economy.”