this post was submitted on 15 Jan 2025
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Fediverse vs Disinformation

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Pointing out, debunking, and spreading awareness about state- and company-sponsored astroturfing on Lemmy and elsewhere. This includes social media manipulation, propaganda, and disinformation campaigns, among others.

Propaganda and disinformation are a big problem on the internet, and the Fediverse is no exception.

What's the difference between misinformation and disinformation? The inadvertent spread of false information is misinformation. Disinformation is the intentional spread of falsehoods.

By equipping yourself with knowledge of current disinformation campaigns by state actors, corporations and their cheerleaders, you will be better able to identify, report and (hopefully) remove content matching known disinformation campaigns.

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Same as instance rules, plus:

  1. No disinformation
  2. Posts must be relevant to the topic of astroturfing, propaganda and/or disinformation

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Mark Zuckerberg Wants More 'Masculine Energy' in Corporations. Here's What He Said [TRUE] (www.snopes.com)
submitted 13 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) by Flatworm7591@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/fediverse_vs_disinfo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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Zuckerberg did not use those exact words but did call for more masculine energy in corporations, saying they are "neutered" and are "trying to get away" from masculine energy, while a culture that "celebrates the aggression" has merits. He also said "you want feminine energy, you want masculine energy," while adding "you're gonna have parts of society that have more of one or the other. I think that's all good."

Visit us @ !fediverse_vs_disinfo@lemmy.dbzer0.com for all the latest news on the topics of astroturfing, propaganda and disinformation.

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[–] theunknownmuncher@lemmy.world -2 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Reminder: Snopes was acquired in a hostile takeover by an advertisement and media group

[–] Flatworm7591@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 11 hours ago

See this comment for a breakdown of this: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/34341361/15643163

I've include the content here, to save you the click (credit to @Optional@lemmy.world :

Okay so I sludged through all the links and comments and I think I have it now:

  • Barbara and David Mikkelson started Snopes. They got divorced, she sold her half to RIchmond and Schoentrup.
  • They had met because Richmond started an ad company, their first client was Snopes.
  • After Barbara sold, David claimed they only got 40% not 50% of the shares which meant everyone spent money and time on lawyers, which everyone loves doing.
  • Around this time, Richmond sold his ad company. He sold it to Sovrn, who - if they did own Snopes it would totally suck, but they don’t. Richmond held on to Snopes.
  • In 2022, Richmond and Mikkelson finally agreed to a buyout where Mikkelson would take more of their money and then GTFO. Which he did.

So no, Richmond (and his ‘business partner Schoentrup’ - I suppose just a financial backer? it’s not clear.) runs Snopes by hisself. No ad company involved.

I mean, you could argue that someone who started an ad company at all, in the first place, should be pelted with rocks and garbage, but even then he sold it before fully acquiring all of Snopes. Presumably, they were also keenly aware that running Snopes and an ad company would not be a good look.

I think that’s it.

So in truth, Snopes is now run by Richmond, who sold his ad business prior to taking over Snopes. Yes, he used to own an ad company, which isn't a great look, but considering he divested from the ad business before taking control of Snopes that was at least a step in the right direction.