MathGrunt

You are absolutely correct. The unfortunate fact is that propaganda works. Even if you know it is propaganda, it still works.

A bit like a placebo in that regard.

I would really like an open-source alternative to Facebook. The connection idea with friends via a social network platform I like, the bots and ads and force fed (propaganda) news I really don't like.

Plus, an open source Facebook would really hurt Zuck and that's also a win.

Thank you for the article OP.

While this doesn't surprise me, I can't help but wonder how many other parallel situations there are where an industry of many separate entities distort, hide and otherwise lie to the public to maintain the publicly harmful gravy train.