China's 50 cent party and suppressing dissent via distraction

[zoogs]

https://www.vox.com/world/2017/8/2/16019562/china-russia-internet-propaganda-media

The rumor before we started studying this is that it’s something like 2 million people, but we simply don’t know for sure. But we estimate that the government fabricates and posts 448 million social media comments a year.

Some of this sounds familiar. It's certainly a(n effective) blueprint for would-be autocrats to follow.

 

[TGHusker]

From the Vox article

What’s different about China’s approach is the content of the propaganda. The government doesn’t refute critics or defend policies; instead, it overwhelms the population with positive news (what the researchers call “cheerleading” content) in order to eclipse bad news and divert attention away from actual problems.

This has allowed the Chinese government to manipulate citizens without appearing to do so. It permits just enough criticism to maintain the illusion of dissent and only acts overtly when fears of mass protest or collective action arise.

Somehow I think this is related - don't you think :dunno :sarcasm

President Donald Trump ripped into CNN on Wednesday while touting Fox News.

Trump labeled CNN "fake" and called the news network a "loser." He also pushed upcoming telecasts of "Fox & Friends" saying the program will be showing much of his "successful" trip to Asia.

http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/trump-blasts-cnn-touts/2017/11/15/id/826223/

 

[Nebfanatic]

Hopefully the course of history will be accurately recorded and not distorted by the funhouse this administration puts everything through.