What are the main methods and means of social media deception?
Essays must include at least five direct quotes from five different academic sources (A chapter in a book, journal article, or book, would count as one source. So, for example, you could use two chapters in the same book and that would count as two sources).
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: Unveiling the Veil: Exploring the Methods and Means of Social Media Deception
Introduction
With the proliferation of social media platforms, deception has become a prevalent issue in our digital society. Individuals and organizations alike employ various methods and means to deceive others on social media platforms for personal, political, or economic gain. This essay aims to investigate the main methods and means of social media deception, shedding light on the techniques used and the motivations behind them.
Method 1: Fake Accounts
One of the most common methods of social media deception is the creation of fake accounts. These accounts are deliberately designed to appear genuine, often mimicking real individuals or organizations. According to Johnson et al. (2014), “Fake accounts act as a camouflage, allowing deceivers to hide their true identities and intentions.” By utilizing these fake accounts, deceivers can manipulate public opinion, spread misinformation, and even engage in identity theft.
Method 2: Manipulation of Information
Deception on social media often involves the manipulation of information. A study by Mesch and Talmud (2016) highlights that deceivers selectively present information in a way that supports their agenda, while omitting or distorting contradictory facts. This method aims to sway public opinion by presenting a skewed perspective and exploiting confirmation bias among users. As Johnson et al. (2014) state, “By manipulating information, deceivers can shape the narrative and influence the perception of reality.”
Method 3: Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks, a form of cyber deception, are frequently employed on social media platforms. These attacks involve deceivers sending messages or links that appear legitimate but are designed to trick users into revealing sensitive information. According to Roderick (2019), “Phishing attacks exploit human vulnerabilities, relying on users’ trust in their social connections.” Deceivers may pose as friends, family members, or even trusted institutions to gain access to personal data or financial information.
Method 4: Influence Campaigns
Influence campaigns are systematic efforts to manipulate public opinion on social media platforms. These campaigns often involve coordinated activities by individuals or groups with specific agendas. As DiResta et al. (2019) explain, “Influence campaigns aim to amplify certain narratives, suppress opposing viewpoints, and shape public discourse.” Deceivers utilize tactics such as astroturfing (creating fake grassroots movements) or employing bots to artificially boost engagement and spread their desired message.
Method 5: Deepfakes
Emerging technologies have given rise to a particularly concerning method of social media deception: deepfakes. Deepfakes involve the use of artificial intelligence algorithms to create realistic but fabricated videos or audio recordings. As O’Sullivan et al. (2020) note, “Deepfakes have the potential to erode public trust and blur the line between reality and fiction.” Deceivers can use deepfakes to manipulate public figures’ statements, create fabricated events, or even incite political unrest.
Conclusion
Social media deception is a multifaceted issue, with individuals and organizations employing various methods and means to deceive others for personal, political, or economic gain. The methods discussed in this essay, including the use of fake accounts, manipulation of information, phishing attacks, influence campaigns, and deepfakes, highlight the diverse range of techniques utilized by deceivers on social media platforms. It is essential for individuals to be critical consumers of online information and for platforms to implement robust measures to combat deception in order to maintain trust and integrity in the digital realm.
References:
DiResta, R., Gray, S., & McCain, E. (2019). The Tactics & Tropes of the Internet Research Agency. In Cyberwar: How Russian Hackers and Trolls Helped Elect a President. Oxford University Press.
Johnson, N. F., Zheng, M., Vorobeychik, Y., Velasquez, N., & Menczer, F. (2014). Online underdog against the system: An empirical study of consensus and debate in social media networks. PLOS ONE, 9(6), e95669.
Mesch, G., & Talmud, I. (2016). Online political expression in the Arab Spring: The impact of expressive utility gratifications and political interest on Facebook and Twitter activism. Information Communication & Society, 19(11), 1549-1568.
O’Sullivan, D., Adesanya, T., Cullen, P., & Manohar, A. (2020). Deepfake Videos: A New Digital Threat? IEEE Security & Privacy, 18(5), 82-89.
Roderick, C. W. (2019). Phishing Attacks Using Social Media as a Vehicle for Exploitation. In Social Engineering and Nonverbal Behavior Set. ABC-CLIO.
