Public Documents Reveal How the Branches of the US Military Are Instructed To Harness Internet Culture To Advance Their Own Messaging (theoutline.com)

An anonymous reader shares a report: It's common practice for brands or government agencies to use social media marketing tactics -- such as recognizing internet holidays like #WorldEmojiDay, #NationalDogDay, or #HumpDay using emojis, or generally speaking in a more conversational, down-to-earth tone -- in order to spread their messaging and communicate with the public. However, the stakes behind military Twitter accounts are fundamentally different than that of, say, the Department of the Interior. These accounts aren't just encouraging people to go to national parks; they're propagandizing and idealizing military valor in order to normalize their actions, elicit acceptance from the public, and recruit new members. The report adds that the government organizations maintain social media handbooks to encourage curators to "create a voice and be authentic." In the recent months, many branches of the military have been criticized for insensitive tweets.

Comments

Why is this here

[oldgraybeard]

Gotta love this
"anonymous reader shares"

So who is theoutline.com
The Outline is a New York-based digital media company focused on power, culture and the future. It was founded by Joshua Topolsky in 2016 who raised $5 million from several venture capitalists to start the company. wikipedia
Who is Joshua Topolsky
The Verge Co-Founder Calls Ben Shapiro "The Jew Who Helps Other Jews Onto the Train" says a lot about who Joshua Topolsky is. But that might just be me.

Just click bait don't waste your time.

Just my 2 cents ;)

Re:This is new?

[ShanghaiBill]

Well, I was a grunt. I joined for adventure rather than tech. I wanted to travel the world and jump out of helicopters. The Marines turned out to be a good choice. In the Army and Air Force you can spend your entire enlistment sitting on one base. But Marines deploy. I traveled to nearly a dozen countries, although some just for a 4 day port call.

I got a global perspective, and realized that people are basically the same wherever you go. I also learned to speak basic Japanese and Tagalog (Filipino), and started learning Chinese. I grew up in a small town in Tennessee, and I don't know what I would have done if I had stayed there. My military experience put my life on a completely different track.

As a grunt, you learn people skills, how to talk with confidence, and how to organize, train, and motivate people. Those are valuable skills. When co-workers talk about the "stress" of dealing with a software deadline, I just smile. They have obviously never done a night insertion off an LHA in heavy seas and driving rain. If you don't have to worry about people dying, then it is not "stressful".

Re:If you like your freedom you can keep your free

[frozencesium]

There is no "valor" in modern warfare. That is long past. But it is no surprise that people like you have not gotten that message...

Says the person who's never been in combat. Only those who haven't served and/or haven't been in combat make comments like that. Is it your lack of first hand experience in matter, or a lack of comprehension of the English language?

Right out of the Google machine:

valor
noun: valour; noun: valor
great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle.
"the medals are awarded for acts of valor"
synonyms: bravery, courage, pluck, nerve, daring, fearlessness, audacity, boldness, dauntlessness, stout-heartedness, heroism, backbone, spirit; More
antonyms: cowardice


I'm sorry I don't see anything about whether or not you feel a particular military action was justified or any kind moral acceptance. Acts of bravery happen in combat whether or not you agree with the justification for military action or what side you are on.

Yeah, yeah...I know, don't feed the trolls. Sometimes I can't help myself.