Word for "influencing or manipulating people without their knowledge"


What is the word that describes the process of influencing people without their knowledge?


For example, "Social Media content is drastically influencing people's opinions without their knowledge".


Or should I leave the sentence as is?



Answer



The term I would use is subliminally, the adverbial form of subliminal



(of a stimulus or mental process) below the threshold of sensation or consciousness; perceived by or affecting someone's mind without their being aware of it.



The classic form of this is subliminal advertisingonce thought to be widespread in movies. In this use, a single frame showing popcorn, inserted at intervals into the movie, was thought to induce a desire for popcorn without the viewer realizing that anything had happened. Other, more sinister,uses have been claimed, up to and including political campaigns.


So, your sentence might become, "Social Media content is drastically and subliminally influencing peoples opinions."


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