2. Many online articles use clickbait headlines to grab attention, even if the content is not as sensational as promised.

3. Social media can be a powerful tool for manipulation, influencing how people think and behave through targeted misinformation.

4. Deepfake technology has raised concerns as it can create realistic but fake videos, making it difficult to trust what we see online.

5. Fact-checking is essential in today’s media landscape to verify the truth of statements and combat misinformation.

6. Fake accounts on social platforms often spread misinformation or pretend to be legitimate users to influence public opinion.

7. The rumor mill spreads unverified information quickly, often leading to confusion and panic before the facts are known.

8. A false narrative can take hold when a misleading version of events is repeated enough times, shaping public perception.

9. Conspiracy theories often thrive in times of uncertainty, offering simple explanations for complex events, even when no evidence supports them. (Verschwörungstheorien entwickeln sich … bringen …hervor)

10. A viral hoax can cause widespread panic or misunderstanding before it is debunked by reliable sources. (eine Falschmeldung kann… verursachen)

• surveillance and censorship of oppositional opinions

• spreading disinformation to control the public opinion

• usage of bots and trolls to irritate the society and part it

• the opposition is being oppressed

Cyberbullying

Mentality

Good influence

Bad influence

Anxiety

Depression

Resilience

normal girl

published a awkward foto

The photo goes viral

She got bullied from classmates

Panic attacks and depression

She died

We chose this topic because it shows what can happen when you post a photo on the internet. It also demonstrates that even your classmates, whom you trust, can make fun of you and not help you.

• check fact-checking websites: use resources like snopes.com, factcheck.org, politifact.org, opensecrets.org

  to verify the legitimacy of the news

• examine the author: look for the author‘s name, legitimate articles usually include the link to their profile

• website quality: poor design, strange URLs can be a red flag

  
  

  online propaganda

• powerful tool used to shaped opinions, influence behavior and manipulate people

  
  

  some things about deepfakes

• This technology allows the creation of hyperrealistic but fake videos, making it a dangerous tool for propaganda.

• Manipulated images or videos can disort facts and create false narratives

clickbait

• often plays on emotions like curiosity, shock, anger or excitement

• headlines like „ You won‘t believe what happens next!“ are designed to pique curiosity

• There are short-term advantages, such as political stability and

  the prevention of unrest.

• Censorship and control help maintain social order.

• Preventing misinformation: Limiting the spread of harmful misinformation or fake news that could destabilize society.

  
  

And it is of course..

…. A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY

to be better at sport and have a better workmentality

To get a better nutrition

To get motivated

To make money with your impact

According to 2020 media manipulation survey from the Oxford Internet Institute,

there were Social Media manipulation campaigns in 81 of 81 surveyed countries.

(2019 there were 70 affected countries)

• media Manipulation is all around us

Distributors

• (foreign) governments

• (foreign) political parties

• public relation firms (PR-agencies)

Disinformation

• mostly deployed as part of political communication

• very professional and produced on an industrial scale

• politics:

  used for propaganda to shape public attitudes

• PR-agencies:

  used to change narratives and convince people to act a certain way (f. e. buy products)

• government:

  used to suppress political participation, and undermine oppositional parties

• foreign governments:

  used to change the narrative of one’s country, change one’s country’s foreign policy towards a country / region by misleading it’s citizens to protest against the current affairs

• Bot Networks:

  Automated accounts, or bots, amplify messages by sharing or liking posts, creating the illusion of widespread support or consensus on particular topics.

  
  

• no evidence and false

• Trump ist using these people for his campaign

If there‘s a war the nations which are included mostly only speak about the bad things their enemy did.

Trump saying there is no Corona.

The russian vaccine which was published a very short time after Corona was discovered and propagandised to be the best and only solution for the pandemia.

Visit Qatar advertising the beatifull sides of Qatar and inviting people to tell their positive memories they made there.

(also applicable to the visit Saudi campaign)

• for most of us there are none

Phrases

• protect your personal data (schütze deine persönliche Daten)

• share responsibly (verantwortungsvoll teilen)

• control your privacy settings (kontrolliere deine Datenschutzeinstellungen)

• limit data access (begrenze den Datenzugriff)

• overshare personal details (Persönliche Daten weitergeben)

• monitor activity (Aktivität überwachen)

• track online behavior (Online-Verhalten verfolgen)

• violate user trust    (Vertrauen der Nutzer verletzen)

• collect personal information (Persönliche Informationen sammeln)

• examine privacy policies  (Prüfen von Datenschutzrichtlinien)

• ensure online safety (Gewährleistung der Online-Sicherheit)

Nouns explained

• data ownership (Dateneigentum)

• cyber-/ datasecurity (Cyber-/ Datensicherheit)

• digital footprint (digitaler Fußabdruck)

• privacy policies (Datenschutzrichtlinien)

• two-factor authentication (Zwei-Faktor-Authentifizierung)

• user consent (Einwilligung der Nutzer)

• right to own image (Recht am eigenen Bild)

• anonymity (Anonymität)

• data breach (Datenschutzverletzung)

• identity theft (Identitätsdiebstahl)

• hacker (Hacker)

• surveillance (Überwachung)

• third-party access (Zugriff durch Dritte)

  
  

• Ensuring privacy builds trust between users and platforms. When users feel secure, they are more likely to engage and share information.

• Privacy settings allow users to block unwanted contact, preventing harassment, cyberbullying or stalking.

• Companies that prioritize privacy demonstrate responsibility, which can improve customer loyalty and their public image.

• Many platforms offer privacy settings, but users need to actively navigate them to control who can see their information, posts, and personal details.

• Social media platforms often track users across other apps and websites, gathering more data than most realize.

• Even after deleting posts or accounts, your data can be retained by platforms for a long time. Also archived versions may still be available.

• Some platforms sell or share user data with third-party companies like advertisers or analytics firms without explicit user consent.

• Social media often allows users to remain anonymous, which encourage cyberbullying, harassment and trolling.

• Governments may request data from social media platforms for surveillance purposes or monitoring user activities and communications.

• Social media accounts are vulnerable to hacking.

• Many organizations don’t have strong security measures like two-factor authentication.

  
  

• Many platforms automatically tag posts with location data. This can reveal your physical location to strangers.

This data was then used for political advertising, particularly during the 2016 U.S. Presidential election and the Brexit referendum. They influenced voters by showing them highly personalized political ads, aimed at shaping their political opinions. Cambridge Analytica accessed the data through a quiz app, which not only gathered information from the people who took the quiz but also from their Facebook friends, all without permission.

This scandal sparked global concerns about data privacy, Facebook’s role in protecting user information, and the use of personal data to sway democratic processes. It also led to increased inspections of social media platforms and their responsibility in handling user data.

data collection - Datenerfassung

privacy - Privatsphäre

exploitation - Ausbeutung, Ausnutzung

consent - Zustimmung, Einwilligung

tracking - Verfolgen

monitoring - Überwachung, Aufsicht

to observe - jdn/etw. beobachten

to gather - etw sammeln

to analyze - etw analysieren

to trace - etw zurückverfolgen

to collect - etw sammeln

to obtain - etw gewinnen

to detect - etw erkennen

Types of Surveillance

1) Government Surveillance

• often justified for national security

• includes monitoring communications and internet activity

2) Corporate Surveillance

• companies track user behavior to enhance marketing strategies and improve services

3) Personal Surveillance

• individuals use devices like cameras and Apps for safety

• many inadvertently infringe of privacy

Exploitation of Data

1) Targeted Advertising

• companies use personal data to create tailored ads (intrusive)

2) Manipulation

• data can be used to influence people

• examples: behavioral, political campaigns, social media

3) Profiling

• individuals can be profiled based on their online activity

• can potentially lead to discrimination

• government mass surveillance of internet communications

2) Facebook-Cambridge Analytical Scandal

• exploitation of Facebook user data for political targeting

3) Amazon Alexa

• smart device collecting and using voice data

4) Google location history

• tracks where users go, even when location services are off

• data is used for advertising purposes

5) Ring Doorbells

• record videos

• allowing law enforcement access to footage without a warrant

• privacy concerns

• helps detect and prevent crime through monitoring

2) Personalized Services

• improves user experience by offering tailored recommendations and ads

3) Business Optimization

• companies can use data to streamline operations and boost efficiency

4) Law Enforcement Efficiency

• facial recognition and surveillance tools can help law enforcement identify suspects more quickly

• invasion of personal space and data without consent

2) Data Security Risks

• potential for data breaches and misuse of sensitive information

3) Mass Surveillance Concerns

• Government overreach and erosion of civil liberties

4) Lack of Transparency

• users are often unaware of how their data is being collected and used

Engaging with people

• Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter)

• Build a community around

your cause

• Set up campaigns

—> Black Lives Matter

—> #BlackLivesMatter

hashtag helped

raise global

awareness

about racial

injustice

—> Fridays for future

—> Fridays for future

uses social media

to coordinate climate

strikes and rallies

around the world

• Rising Awareness:

—> Twitter, Facebook and Instagram allow people to share informations with a large audience

• Mobilizing People:

—> with Social Media its easier to organize things like events and protests

• Building Communities:

—> Social Media helps people connect with others who care about the same issues.

—> creates strong communities that can support each other and work together for change

• Sharing Resources:

—> Social Media allows people to share information, such as where to find legal help

• Wider Reach

  —> Social Media allows you to reach a global audience quickly and efficiently.

  
  

• Real-Time Engagement

  —> Social Media enables real-time interaction with your audience, allowing for immediate feedback and engagement.

  —> can help build a strong community around your cause

• Storytelling

  —> Social Media is a powerful platform for storytelling.

  —> Sharing personal stories and testimonials create an emotional connection with your audience.

Recent Changes an Trends:

• Increased Use of Video Content

  —> Video content is becoming popular on social media. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels are great for creating engaging and shareable content.

• Enhanced Privacy Features

  —> Social media platforms are introducing more robust privacy features to protect user.

  
  

• Algorithm Updates

  —> Social media algorithms are constantly changing.

  —> Staying updated with these changes can help ensure your content reaches the right audience.

• Interactive Features

  —> Features like live streaming, polls and Q&A sessions are becoming more common, allowing for more interactive and engaging content.

  
  

• Focus on Accessibility

  —> There is a growing emphasis on making social media content accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

  —> This includes adding captions to videos and using alt text for images

- Polarization: Increased divisions within society.

- Election Interference: Disruption of electoral processes.

- Public Sentiment Manipulation: Shaping opinions on critical issues.

- Identity and Security Risks: Targeted harassment and threats.

- Erosion of Trust: Skepticism towards institutions and media.

- Regulatory Challenges: Difficulty in creating effective regulations.

- Psychological Impact: Confusion and anxiety among the public.

- Economic Consequences: Reputational damage to businesses.

- International Relations Strain: Heightened tensions between nations.

* Monopoly power: These companies often have dominant market positions, which can stifle competition and innovation.

* Spread of misinformation: Social media platforms can be used to spread false information and propaganda.

* Addiction and mental health: Excessive use of social media and other digital platforms has been linked to addiction and mental health problems.

* Censorship: Big Tech companies have the power to censor content, which can limit free speech.

* Information and Transparency: Big Tech has revolutionized access to information and news. Through social media and search engines, we can quickly and easily inform ourselves about current events.

* Civil Society: Social media enables citizens to organize, make political demands, and participate in debates. This strengthens civil society.

* Innovation: Big Tech drives innovations that make our lives easier and open up new opportunities.

Negative Influences:

* Filter bubbles and echo chambers: Social media algorithms can lead users to only be presented with information that aligns with their own opinions. This reinforces political polarization and makes constructive dialogue more difficult.

* Misinformation and Fake News: Social media spreads quickly and can be used to spread false news, which can manipulate public opinion and influence elections.

* Surveillance and Data Privacy: Big Tech collects enormous amounts of personal data that can be used for surveillance and targeted advertising. This raises serious questions about data protection and individual freedom.

* Monopoly Formation: A few large companies control a large part of the digital market. This can lead to a restriction of freedom of speech and dependence on a few providers.

(PR-Agentur)

foreign

(Ausländisch, Ausland)

undermine sth.

(etw. untergraben)

rapid dissemination

(schnelle Verbreitung)

electoral processes

(Wahlvorgänge, Wahlen)

public sentiment manipulation

(Beeinflussung der öffentlichen Meinung)

erosion of trust

(Vertrauensverlust)

* Information and Transparency: Big Tech has revolutionized access to information and news. Through social media and search engines, we can quickly and easily inform ourselves about current events.

* Civil Society: Social media enables citizens to organize, make political demands, and participate in debates. This strengthens civil society.

* Innovation: Big Tech drives innovations that make our lives easier and open up new opportunities.

Negative Influences:

* Filter bubbles and echo chambers: Social media algorithms can lead users to only be presented with information that aligns with their own opinions. This reinforces political polarization and makes constructive dialogue more difficult.

* Misinformation and Fake News: Social media spreads quickly and can be used to spread false news, which can manipulate public opinion and influence elections.

* Surveillance and Data Privacy: Big Tech collects enormous amounts of personal data that can be used for surveillance and targeted advertising. This raises serious questions about data protection and individual freedom.

* Monopoly Formation: A few large companies control a large part of the digital market. This can lead to a restriction of freedom of speech and dependence on a few providers.

* Big Tech

* Tech giants

* Digital giants

* Tech monopolies

* Surveillance capitalism

* Data privacy

* Algorithmic bias

* Digital divide

Specific concerns:

* Misinformation

* Disinformation

* Fake news

* Echo chambers

* Filter bubbles

* Censorship

* Free speech

* Political polarization

* Social media addiction

* Mental health

* Antitrust

* Regulation

Impacts:

* Democracy

* Elections

* Economy

* Society

* Culture

Examples of Big Tech companies:

* Facebook (Meta)

* Google (Alphabet)

* Amazon

* Apple

* Microsoft