I still wouldn't say "driving" because there have ALWAYS been false narratives used and planted since well before the US was a country. But I do agree the information a/b testing that social media affords is a game change. 2 further points: 1st is due to @olivermmarsh.bsky.social 1/
1) it isn't deepfakes / AI / disinfo that's the problem – Russia &al. amplify narratives from legitimate sources that best serve their purposes. 2) not everyone RTs extremism, but a/b testing helps plant sharply weaponised stories to surf the waves of those affectively polarised people who do. 2/2
Yes, I'm not going to argue misinfo isn't a problem but I think the focus on "untrue" rather than "damaging irrespective of how true it is" isn't the right focus. A great (if old) piece on this demos.co.uk/research/war...
and fwiw I do think the focus on misinfo/disinfo was disproportionate relative to hate speech / polarisation, especially around 2016-2019, and just after chatgpt launch. Though the dismissal of misinfo is now going too far other way