How Russian Psy-Ops Target the Next Generation
From Cambridge Analytica to TikTok: How Russian Psy-Ops Target the Next Generation Western democracies remain focused on outdated models of disinformation, still seeing Russian influence operations as crude propaganda campaigns or election meddling. In reality, the Kremlin’s psychological warfare has evolved into a sophisticated and adaptive strategy that primarily targets the youngest, most impressionable generation. With social media dictating how young people consume information, Russia has embraced AI-driven content manipulation, algorithmic exploitation, and data-harvesting techniques to infiltrate digital spaces where traditional state-backed propaganda would be ineffective. The Cambridge Analytica scandal should have been an early warning. By exploiting vast amounts of personal data, the company created hyper-personalized political messaging that manipulated users without their knowledge. The scandal exposed a vulnerability that Russian intelligence quickly capitalized on, adapt...
