The Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes and the Memory of the Romanian Exile (IICCMER) signals an alarming increase in communist and extremist propaganda on social media, especially on TikTok, where 200 posts have generated approximately 130 million views. Young people are the most exposed to these messages, which are often propagated through networks coordinated by trolls and bots. IICCMER's analysis highlights that propaganda pages, initially created in 2017, have evolved from emotional content to pro-communist messages.
Researchers identify two main manipulation tactics: apparent neutrality, which invites the public to draw conclusions, and modern stylization, which makes propaganda attractive to young people through music and visual elements. The most common narratives promoted include the glorification of Nicolae Ceaușescu and the achievements of his regime, as well as invoking national sovereignty.
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