Vietnam admits deploying bloggers to support the Communist Party's policies, operates a network of nearly 1,000 "public opinion shapers". (BBC 2013)

submitted by HibikiBlackCaudillo from bbc.com

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[–]SoCo 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

BBC previously reported, around the same time, that the UK military did the same. It's safe to assume, that most countries have done so as well. Social media has been a de-facto military war front for at least a decade, and most of the public is too naive to realize it. They think they are following popular sentiment, instead of military planted carrots on a stick.

[–]DirewolfGhost 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Which makes it a good barometer for people on the street to determine how dumb the populace of a country is. If they believe the propaganda, they're probably not worth associating with and are best to leave to die in their pods to be discovered by the smell.

[–]SoCo 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I can agree with the sentiment, but I'm not sure how much I demand the public around me keep up with current event topics. I see falling for such propaganda to be much easier, if you are not well informed on the topics. If we are all kept poor and struggling, then we don't have the time or energy to keep well informed; this may be by design.

[–]DirewolfGhost 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

It is absolutely by design. Similar to how grass does not grow under trees, the easily reproducible will not thrive under this system. Associate with trees, not weeds.

[–]portace 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

considering BBC is the root of the Ministry of Truth, is there a link to the interview? I prefer listening/reading from the horse's lips rather than from a fake news agency. I tried Googling "Hanoi Propaganda and Education Department", but the only results I get back are from sources that link back to government funding or government agencies.

Funding bloggers is also a common tactic to battle the US/UK astroturfs along with censorship (see Russia/China), but 1000 isn't nearly enough. Although I guess the US/UK also wouldn't deploy that many on Vietnam social media.