‘Slopaganda’ is a new, powerful way of influencing you, say experts
⭐️HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW⭐️
Pro-Iran, AI-generated propaganda using LEGOs has gone viral.
The videos use catchy rap music and jokes to criticize Trump and his war with Iran.
Experts say it’s important to remember that propaganda tries to trick you into thinking that there’s only one correct side, when both are often at fault.
Instead, it’s important to find credible sources before forming an opinion or sharing.
Read on to find out what other tips they shared for kids. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
When you’re at war with another country and the entire world is watching, how do you get the world on your side?
By using LEGOs, of course.
Over the past few weeks, a pro-Iran production company called Explosive News has released a slate of AI-generated, LEGO movie-esque animations.
They poke fun at U.S. President Donald Trump and the war between the United States and Iran.
Experts say the high entertainment value, along with the speed they’re being made with the use of AI, is what’s helped the videos go viral.
But they say the videos are propaganda and kids should think critically before sharing them.
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Rap music, jokes, and fast-paced LEGO action
The videos include figures like Trump, his Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and other United States politicians in fast-action, colourful scenes.
They’re underscored with catchy rap music that sounds like it's pulled straight from today’s top charts with hooks that make you want to sing along.
They’re also jam-packed with jokes, insults and tons of references to American pop culture and the internet — from poop emojis to the use of the acronym “DMS” (direct messages).
“Bro, go to sleep,” one of the raps says, referencing Trump’s tendency to post on social media late at night.
An animation of a LEGO Donald Trump shows him on a smartphone late at night.
The AI-made animations poke fun at, for example, Trump's tendency to post on social media late at night, along with a host of much more serious slights against him. (Image credit: ExplosiveMediaa/Instagram)
But most importantly, they include a host of serious allegations against the United States, which are claims that may or may not be actually true.
Some include the idea that Trump is stealing from his own people, that he puts Israel’s needs ahead of America’s, and that the U.S. government is run by sex criminals.
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This is called propaganda
The pro-Iran animations are a prime example of propaganda.
Propaganda is a piece of media that use things like words, pictures, and videos to manipulate your emotions and beliefs.
Propaganda is often made during war where it can be used, for example, to convince a country’s people that their government’s actions are in their best interest, even when they're not.
Marcus Kolga, one of Canada's leading experts in propaganda and the founder of DisinfoWatch, said these videos are a particularly clever and powerful example of propaganda.
He said that when propaganda comes directly from authoritarian regimes like Iran, it doesn’t usually do a good job of swaying the beliefs of citizens of other countries.
“That’s because they’re not trusted. But when they use influencers inside of democracies like the U.S. to influence on their behalf, it’s a lot more effective,” he said.
He said LEGO characters are essentially the “perfect influencer.”
“LEGO is universally known, and its characters are part of our worlds and connect with our sense of joy,” he said. “When we see these adorable figures, it lowers our defences.”
Add in some very modern-sounding rap music and American humour, and Kolga said what results is a “brilliant” example of propaganda.
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Or should we say "slopaganda?"
That’s a term that’s been popularized only in the last few years, referring to propaganda that can be made extremely quickly and at a high-production level with the use of AI.
“We’re seeing these videos emerge very shortly after events transpire in Iran, sometimes just hours after,” he said.
An animation shows a LEGO Donald Trump surrounded by Israel iconography, including a U.S. flag with a Star of David on it.
Many of the videos claim that Trump’s allegiances lie more with Israel than the United States, with one song hook saying ‘The United States of Israel.’ (Image credit: ExplosiveMediaa/Instagram)
According to Kolga, slopaganda is one of the biggest threats that AI poses to our democracies, which is why it’s so important for kids and teens — now more than ever – to be critical of what they see online.
So far, the company hasn't taken legal action for using the LEGO brand without permission, but YouTube has taken down the Explosive Media account from their website for violating their spam, deceptive practices, and scams policies, a spokesperson purportedly told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
What kids should keep in mind
Although the LEGO animations are clear examples of propaganda, Kolga said that doesn’t mean there isn’t some truth to them or that the U.S. hasn’t done anything wrong.
“We’ve seen Trump use similar tactics to try to communicate his own positions, using slopaganda,” said Kolga.
He referenced an AI-generated video that Trump shared last year of him in a fighter jet dumping poop onto U.S. citizens attending the “No Kings” rally.
People had gathered to protest things Trump was doing that they saw as anti-democratic.
“That sort of content, to be produced by any democratically elected leader, is outrageous.”
An animated LEGO Trump sits at a conference table with politicians.
Experts say that propaganda tries to make you feel like the other side is wrong, but it's often the case that both sides have made mistakes. (Image credit: ExplosiveMediaa/Instagram)
Matthew Johnson, the director of education for MediaSmarts, said it’s important for kids and teens to remember that they don’t need to take a side.
“One of the things that propaganda tries to do is make us think that there is one correct side to a story,” he said.
“But the fact that we disapprove of one side doesn’t mean that the other side is right.”
For propaganda — but also for social media in general — Johnson said it’s important that kids take a step back whenever content is trying to make them feel an emotion.
“When content is making a case by making you feel strongly, or making you laugh, it’s important to be aware that that’s very different than making a logical argument,” he said.
He said that’s especially important to do before you share something, because that’s exactly what propaganda is trying to get you to do.
Instead, Johnson encourages kids to take that time to look at the source, evaluate its credibility, and ask yourself what it’s trying to get you to believe.
OK — so how do kids find the truth?
It’s certainly hard in this day and age to know what to believe.
But Kolga and Johnson said that your first step should be to avoid using social media as a primary source for information and ideas.
“If you’re not sure about something, ask a teacher, a parent, or a librarian to help you learn more about a topic,” said Johnson.
He said that it’s also important to find high-quality sources, like newspapers and media outlets with a long history of abiding by journalistic standards in their work.
“Look for news outlets that make it clear what standards they follow, which should involve things like fact-checking and a policy to make corrections when they make mistakes,” he said
Along with that, both Jonhson and Kolga said you should try to look at multiple sources before coming to an opinion about a given issue.
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