New Year’s media summary- social media’s worrisome burden

In the last month, the Estonian media has been dominated by stories about using social media channels to manipulate people.

In addition to Facebook fake accounts being exposed by Propastop and Postimees, the Estonian media has published several stories about international research and analysis, with attention paid to developments and the general impact of the overall abundance of information.

Research and analyzes
Eesti Ekspress wrote, under the direction of Renee DiResta about the „The Tactics and Tropes of Internet ­Research Agency“. Postimees distributed Politico material from online right-wing campaigns as well as ERR talked about the impact of fact-control on the image of politicians.

Eesti Ekspress – Media mirage and memes, or a new cookbook for Russian trolls
https://ekspress.delfi.ee/arvamus/meediamiraaz-ja-meemid-ehk-vene-trollikoogi-uus-kokaraamat?id=84891205

Novator/ERR – Study: serial liars’ support of politicians reduces regular fact control
https://novaator.err.ee/885981/uuring-sarivaletajatest-poliitikute-toetust-vahendab-regulaarne-faktikontroll

Postimees – Report: Extremists started an info campaign against the UN Migration agreement
https://www.postimees.ee/6493377/raport-aarmuslased-tekitasid-infokampaaniaga-vastuseisu-uro-randeleppele

ERR – A study that was widespread on the spread of fake news turned out to be false
https://novaator.err.ee/897606/laialt-levinud-uurimus-valeuudiste-levikust-osutus-valeks

The good work of citizen journalism
A good example of searching for information from public sources, where a provoking group conducting a protest action in Tallinn was identified and their links with a competing political party was made public.

Postimees – Photo: Estonia 200 denies any pre-planned provocation in Freedom Square
https://www.postimees.ee/6475792/foto-eesti-200-eitab-ettekavatsetud-provokatsiooni-vabaduse-valjakul

Postimees – Seppel’s social media commentary: yellow press media found a blade in a baby carriage.
https://arvamus.postimees.ee/6479445/seppeli-sotsmeediakommentaar-korvalniremeedia-leidis-lapsevankrist-tera

New internal political fake account saga
The identification of social media fake accounts that began with the ESTONERS FB group created a snowball effect, which is rolling on and is raising public awareness of the dangers.

Postimees – Trolls also manipulated the opinion section of the Päevaleht newspaper
https://leht.postimees.ee/6500092/trollid-manipuleerisid-ka-paevalehe-arvamusrubriigis

Postimees – The chairperson of the Blue Alarm, Ruuben Kaalep acknowledges trolling on social media: I am Bert Valter
https://www.postimees.ee/6500404/sinise-aratuse-esimees-ruuben-kaalep-tunnistab-sotsiaalmeedias-trollimist-mina-olengi-bert-valter

World View portal through Postimees’ vision
A comprehensive example of the content, form and beliefs around a worldview portal.

Postimees – Objektiiv (lens) imports orbanism with donations
https://leht.postimees.ee/6486730/objektiiv-impordib-annetajate-raha-eest-orbanismi

Postimees – Editorial: whose song is being sung by Objektiiv (lens) ?
https://arvamus.postimees.ee/6486726/juhtkiri-kelle-laulu-laulab-objektiiv

Postimees – Direct from Postimees: Andres Kaju talks of Truth, Falsehoods and Demagogy
https://tv.postimees.ee/6490449/otse-postimehest-andreas-kaju-toest-valest-ja-demagoogiast

Postimees – Varro Vooglaid’s response to Andres Kaju
https://www.postimees.ee/6491767/varro-vooglaiu-vastulause-andreas-kajule

New anti-Estonian pattern in Youtubes

ERR – Raul Rebane | Baltic extinction (вымирать)or Russian-language Youtube basic myths about the Baltics
https://www.err.ee/892176/raul-rebane-balti-vomiraadid-ehk-venekeelse-youtube-i-baasmuudid-baltikumist

Facebook moderation from behind the scene
ERR – Fact controllers: Facebook uses us as propaganda tools
https://www.err.ee/884790/faktikontrollijad-facebook-kasutab-meid-propagandavahendina

Information noise surrounds people
ERR – Information noise distorts worldviews and creates stress
https://novaator.err.ee/884794/infomura-moonutab-maailmapilti-ja-tekitab-stressi