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yesYelling elections leads to massive electoral fraud, Joe Biden is controlled by socialists, the numbers of deaths by crown are false – these are just some of the claims that a group of teenagers have recently posted on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You might think that ordinary Donald Trump fans are repeating some of his lies and mixing them with his widespread dislike of “the top” in Washington. But it is contributions to a coordinated campaign on social media that the Washington Post has now discovered. In Phoenix, Arizona, according to research, young people sit in an office building and post tweets, Facebook and Instagram posts. Dozens, maybe hundreds, more are doing this from home, but coordinated from the state in the Southwest. Many of the “trolls” whose posts would be coordinated in terms of content and time are said to be minor. According to the newspaper, he should receive a rate below the minimum wage. Youngsters could improve that with a bonus if a post gets a lot of attention in the form of likes.
The troll farm, reminiscent of attempts to influence the 2016 Russian elections, is funded and organized by the conservative youth organization “Turning Point USA”. “Turning Point” was founded in 2012 by Trump fanatic Charlie Kirk. According to research by the Washington Post, young people posted thousands of posts over a four-week period. Most of them write from their own accounts, but they do not make it clear that they are part of an electoral campaign. So while many pundits and politicians are focusing on the danger of repeated election interference from abroad, there is now the notorious “army of trolls” in their homeland.
The father of two young men involved, aged 16 and 17, defended the action. His daughters are paid to spread conservative positions online; that’s their job now, whenever they see fit. When asked by reporters, “Turning Point” described the action as “honest political activism” by young people who believed in their convictions. Twitter and Facebook, which are repeatedly criticized for their lax use of propaganda, see things differently and, according to the press report, have so far blocked dozens of participating accounts.
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“Turning Point USA,” on the other hand, is the example of an apron organization that apparently manages not to be perceived as ingratiating or inauthentic by young people who think Trump is good. Founder Charlie Kirk, now 26, and President Donald J. Trump’s son, who visits the organization frequently, are accepted as role models, especially by young men. The political positions of the group, which is tax-exempt as a non-profit organization, range from conservative to right-wing nationalist. In 2016 alone, he raised more than $ 8 million in donations, the money coming from millionaires who are dedicated to Trump.
Patriotic music, prayers, appeals to ambition
Many observers consider Turning Point’s influence on young voters and their mobilization to vote high. The group’s events are large-scale, brilliant shows that serve much of what Trump’s young friends find appealing: local folklore, whether with cowboys in Texas or successful bankers in New York, patriotic music, joint prayers and speeches filled with individual success stories. , Appeals to individual ambition. The organization is committed to fighting the so-called Marxism, declared by the “Black Lives Matter” movement, for example. She pays special attention to universities and colleges – according to her own statements, “Turning Point” is represented in 2000 educational establishments. A “Teacher Watch List” organized by the group, classifying teachers for left-wing positions, has already led to several intimidation campaigns against scientists.
