By Samuel Barr

You’re not immune to propaganda, and neither am I. Whether left or right, it affects everyone.

Let’s be blunt: Everyone has bias. It’s built into our brains. We filter information through the lens of our experiences, upbringing, culture, etc. The news sources you prefer, the people you follow, even your favorite podcasts — each reflects your biases. And each has an agenda. This isn’t necessarily sinister. Agenda-setting is a natural consequence of any person’s goals, whether those are profit-driven, ideological or purely self-serving.

Take the news media: They operate under business models. The business of media is to attract attention, and what attracts attention? Conflict. Outrage. Drama. And so, information is framed to provoke emotions, often at the expense of nuance. Even seemingly “neutral” sources fall into this trap. Too often, I hear people slamming the “mainstream media” as if their alternative outlets are somehow not following the same business models.

And it isn’t just in the news media; it’s in the comments, the memes, the TikTok videos. It’s in your Facebook feed and your X threads. We consume propaganda like we breathe air. The trick is learning to recognize it, inoculate yourself against it and choose your media intentionally.

Treat the media like a diet. You wouldn’t eat the same meal every day. Yet, too often, we consume media that only reinforces our existing beliefs. We cherry-pick what fits our worldview and dismiss the rest. This leads to cognitive malnutrition. Here’s some tips for a healthier media diet:

• Diversify your sources. Consume from outlets across the spectrum — left, right, international, niche. There are services out there that aggregate outlets and do this for you. If you can predict what an article will say before you read it, you’re in an echo chamber. Step out of it.

• Follow the money. Every outlet has stakeholders, and these stakeholders influence content. Look into who funds your favorite platforms. When you know who’s paying the bills, it’s easier to understand the slant.

• Deconstruct narratives. Ask, “Who benefits from this narrative?” Every piece of content tells a story, but that story is often written for a reason beyond the pursuit of truth. What’s being omitted? What’s exaggerated? Propaganda thrives in what’s left unsaid.

• Check your own biases. It’s uncomfortable to admit that you might be wrong, but the search for truth requires humility. Make it a habit to seek out viewpoints that challenge you.

• Beware of emotional manipulation. If something you’re reading or watching makes you angry, it’s working. Propaganda weaponizes emotion because an angry mind is easier to direct. Pause when you feel your emotions surge. Take a step back. Ask yourself why you’re reacting.

If nothing else, be cynical about your news sources — especially your favorite ones.

Trust isn’t the default; it’s earned, and even then, it’s temporary. Question their motives, challenge their narratives, and always assume there’s something you’re missing. The moment you stop questioning is the moment you’re most vulnerable to manipulation.

Lastly, I don’t care if you’re red, blue, or somewhere in between — just vote. It takes just five minutes to request an absentee ballot online and you can vote from your own couch. Once it’s in the mail, you’re given a link to a ballot tracker online that tracks your ballot from the mailbox to the ballot box to ensure it’s counted. There’s no reason not to!

Samuel Barr lives in Salisbury