Everyday Propaganda: Pervasive Messaging Surrounds Us in Ways We Don’t Always Recognize

When we think of “propaganda,” we typically think of foreign actors spreading political messages to the masses to subvert our way of life. Though that’s one type of propaganda, it doesn’t scratch the surface of what we’re subjected to daily. 

What Is Propaganda?

Woman with her hand on her chin with a thinking look on her face.
Photo Credit: Cast Of Thousands via Shutterstock.com.

Propaganda is any biased or misleading information used to promote a specific point of view. Though typically political, propaganda is also used to promote religious beliefs, corporate agendas, and in culture wars. 

Key Features of Propaganda

A faceless businessman holding up two workers on puppet strings, showcasing that they're simply puppets in his quest for profits.
Photo Credit: Sergey Nivens via Shutterstock.com.

The critical components of propaganda are an appeal to emotion, a misleading or exaggerated message, and the promotion of a particular viewpoint. 

Whether You Agree Doesn’t Matter

A senior bearded man shrugs as if he doesn't care.
Photo Credit: The Faces via Shutterstock.com.

One insidious characteristic of propaganda is that people tend to only view it as things they disagree with when in reality, propaganda transcends belief. It’s coming from all sides.

You may agree with something, but that doesn’t mean it’s not propaganda. 

Here are examples of propaganda we’re exposed to every day. 

Infotainment

journalism newsroom with a large screen reading "breaking live."
Photo Credit: architect9 via Shutterstock.com.

We love to think of our favorite news source as unbiased. A free and fair press is embedded in the Constitution, after all!

But most news stations have political agendas and will promote causes and politicians aligning with their goals. They call their reporting “news,” while they only report on news that fits their worldview and advances their agenda, ignoring any relevant information that doesn’t fit. 

Memes

Popular meme with man obvioulsy checking out a woman as she passes by while his girlfriend looks at him in anger.
Photo Credit: Antonio Guillem via Shutterstock.com.

Many of our favorite internet memes were created by folks looking to promote their cause. Memes are cultural snippets designed to propagate through the internet. Most have a message, and those who agree with the statement tend to share the meme, spreading it further. 

Military Movies

Soldiers in formation presenting arms in salute.
Photo Credit: Bumble Dee via Shutterstock.com.

Hollywood collaborates with the armed forces to make blockbusters, but it also has another underlying cause and effect. When young people see their heroes fighting bad guys in the military, they join.  

The Color Guard

Military personnel dressed in fancy dress blues with their hands on their ceremonial swords.
Photo Credit: bibiphoto via Shutterstock.com.

Thousands of sporting events across the country start with the National Anthem, and many of the most significant events have a military color guard march on the field to present arms. 

The military pays some organizations for the honor of being on the field, promoting the armed services as a career field. 

War On…

A few Christmas presents scattered on the floor under a tree.
Photo Credit: Pixel-Shot via Shutterstock.com.

Propaganda masters use potent words to spread their message. When we declare war on something that’s not an actual war, we send the message that it’s a battle for our lives. 

Things like the War on Drugs and Christmas aren’t real wars but create emotional reactions in people, getting them amped up and ready to fight. 

Cop Shows

Back of a police man. He's wearing a bullet proof vest and has the word "police" in yellow letters across his back.
Photo Credit: Photo Spirit via Shutterstock.com.

The numerous shows highlighting the hard work police and prosecutors do to lock away horrific criminals are mostly propaganda supporting the police state. Most cities don’t have nearly as many scary criminals, and most cops are locking folks away for minor offenses. 

The Pledge of Allegiance

two girls holding up the American flag behind them.
Photo Credit: Red Fox studio via Shutterstock.com.

In schools across the United States, children stand each morning and pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. 

People from other countries consider it fascist propaganda. 

Feel Good Stories

A young man has his hands over his heart in a feel good heartwarming gesture.
Photo Credit: Mix and Match Studio via Shutterstock.com.

We all love a heartwarming tale, but many feel-good stories in the news are designed to hide the horrendous dystopian the US has become. 

Sure, it’s sweet that the 80-year-old janitor’s coworkers banded together to buy him a car and that the little girl started a lemonade stand to pay for her mother’s cancer treatment, but what kind of society allows those situations to happen in the first place?

Hallmark Movies

A couple dressed in 1950s style dancing in what looks like a Swing style.
Photo Credit: LightField Studios via Shutterstock.com.

Hallmark movies push a specific type of conformity. Fall in love, get married, settle in a small town, and raise a family. This is one of the most insidious types of propaganda because no one is really aware of what it is. However, the message is clear: follow the Hallmark script for a happy life

Anyone who thinks critically about it realizes there are many paths to happiness. 

Hollywood Tropes

man and woman. He's holding yellow flowers wearing yellow suspenders and a white shirt and looks happy. She's wearing a yellow dress and looks happily surprised.
Photo Credit: Roman Samborskyi via Shutterstock.com.

Hollywood is the master of propaganda. The cultural phenomenon pushes strict gender roles, glamorizes toxic relationships, and instills the idea that marriage and children are the epitome of success for a woman. 

Women in movies enjoy the single life until they realize their lives are empty without children, while men in movies self-actualize into heroes. Women become objects, prizes, and motivations for men, who always save the day. The toxic, abusive man always wins the girl’s heart in the end. 

The entire Hollywood machine is a never-ending spool of propaganda designed to keep everyone in line. 

Everything

Woman shrugging with a defeated look as if she knows somethings bad but can't do anything about it.
Photo Credit: Roman Samborskyi via Shutterstock.com.

Nearly everything we see online is actually propaganda in one way or another, especially political or cultural messaging. 

The powers that be want to sway public opinion. To avoid brainwashing, take everything you see with a grain of salt. Think critically about it: who created this message, and what do they want you to get out of it? Is it factual or based on an opinion? Is it exaggerated or designed to appeal to your emotions?

Taking a step back to examine what you see and hear will protect you from the onslaught of propaganda you’re bombarded with every day. 

Our Obsession with Work Culture

man at work looks really bored and unhappy
Photo Credit: Minerva Studio via Shutterstock.com.

Our work culture is destroying us. Find out how. 

Read it Here: America’s Toxic Work Culture

Things That Shouldn’t Be Legal

woman with mad and confused facial expression holding one hand up as if to say "what?".
Photo Credit: Dean Drobot via Shutterstock.com.

Society is ripe with folks legally scamming you out of your hard earned cash.

Here are the top scams we all just accepted as normal. 

Why No One Wants To Work Anymore

woman throwing papers behind her as she quits her job.
Photo Credit: Tero Vesalainen via Shutterstock.com.

The common boomer refrain derides younger generations for refusing awful working conditions. Are they right?

Find out why no one wants to work anymore

Calling Things “Girly”

A man faceplaming
Photo Credit: Cookie Studio via Shutterstock.com.

Men share the weirdest things they’ve been called “girly” for enjoying

Society’s Life Script

couple sitting at a table. Man looks happy, woman looks bored.
Photo Credit: Ruslan Shugushev via Shutterstock.com.

Find out how the life script keeps us trapped and miserable.

Source: Reddit