Harvard Professor Explained How Social Media "Brainwashes" Users

In her resonant book "The Instability of Truth," history of science professor Rebecca Lemov reveals a disturbing trend: mind manipulation techniques, known for decades, are now actively used in the digital environment - from social platforms to the world of cryptocurrencies and even in the field of artificial intelligence.

The researcher introduces the term "hyper-persuasion" - a combination of psychological pressure and emotional impact that creates a state of confusion in a person. These methods effectively control the information space and direct reactions in the desired direction. This is especially evident in social networks, where algorithms continuously offer users content that causes addiction.

The phenomenon of "brainwashing" was first widely discussed after the events of the Korean War, when American prisoners unexpectedly confessed to crimes they had not committed and even refused to return to their homeland. In the 1970s, the story of Patty Hearst, who joined a radical group after being kidnapped, once again drew attention to the possibilities of psychological influence.

Lemov notes an important fact: even intellectually developed and educated people can become victims of manipulation, since these techniques target not rational thinking, but the emotional sphere and past psychological traumas. According to the researcher, the best defense against such influences is "mindfulness and attention to one's feelings."