ASTROTERFING AS A TOOL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL INFLUENCE ON THE MASS CONSCIOUSNESS

Abstract

The influence of the Global Network on the possibility allows users to make an active contribution to the filling of its content by posting comments, videos, or other materials on the websitesis investigated. It’s detected, that the latest method of psychological impact is astroturfing the main advantages of which are the budget and mass distribution of the false information among the Internet consumers. It is proved that Astroturfing is one of the successful forms of virtual mass behavior. Due to the correct usage of informational and communicative technologies, there is an acceleration of the process of creating Astroturfing. These new technologies can profoundly change the quality of the political process in modern societies. The main problem is that astroturfing is almost impossible to study. Partially, it is connected with the complexity and diversity of the structural elements, and partially because it is difficult to distinguish fake or propaganda from the political reality. Despite many governments’ trying to stop the manipulative influence of the stakeholders, efforts are insufficient. That means that efforts to stop the negative impact of astroturfing on the formation of political thoughts and beliefs are unsuccessful. The reveal that the security measures which state institutions are trying to use are quite mild for the elimination of the astroturfing negative impacts, however, tougher measures significantly reduce confidentiality. It is proved that the most effective means of preventing and deterrence of astroturfing is the necessity of the internet users’ increase in informational hygiene and political awareness, the ability to distinguish fakes, understand the main mechanism of the informational impact etc

Keywords

• astroturfing
• cybertrolling
• psychotechnology of the influence
• political manipulation
• fakes
• collective consciousness