Cyberwarfare is the United States’ number one national security threat and GCSU students reflect on the real effects it has had on their experience with the media.
“I think outside influence on our country’s news is a big problem and it is not talked about enough,” said Sebastian Galla, a junior economics major. “We’re also not taught very well how to avoid it.”
Russia and China are two countries that pose an imminent threat to the U.S., as they have developed cyber capabilities that have disrupted U.S. operations. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Russia has been known to launch disinformation campaigns on the U.S. media to amplify political divisions.
The Department of Justice warns that the media consumed by American citizens may be altered by Russian influence. In particular, the social media applications that are the most impacted include, but are not limited to, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X.
“I used to use TikTok as a news source before I knew about how untrustworthy it could be,” said Sarah Waldron, a junior sociology major. “Even though I don’t use social media for that purpose anymore, I’m still surprised how affected our media is by other countries. It makes me wonder how much disinformation I believed was true.”
The accessibility of news through social media makes it easy for unsuspecting individuals to succumb to fake news. According to an article from the British Broadcasting Company, more than 54% of people rely on social media for their news intake. This is more than the 48% of people who rely on news sites.
The Russian government is aware of the large demographic of U.S. citizens who consume social media content. The U.S. Department of Justice highlights the Russian government’s ability to impact U.S. media because it uses companies under its control as a tool. These companies create websites tailored to Americans so they consume Russian propaganda.
Fake names, fake profiles and cybersquatting, a way of selling and profiting from somebody’s name, take place through social media to promote false narratives. One of the most notable instances was during the 2024 presidential election.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice Archives, “Those narratives targeted specific American demographics and regions in a calculated effort to subvert our election. Our republic depends on elections that are free from foreign interference, and we will not rest in our efforts to expose foreign malign influence operations and protect our democracy, without fear or favor.”
Russia has even been found to pump out waves of fabricated news stories during major U.S. events. This makes it more difficult for students to recognize if what they are viewing is credible.
“During the election last year, I kept seeing videos on social media about the candidates that didn’t really seem that true,” Waldron said. “I’m still glad I voted for who I voted for, but some people may have been swayed one way or the other by untrue stories on social media. That really puts this into perspective.”
The U.S. has long debated how to combat this threat, with the most recent action being to prevent threats before they can reach their target. This, according to the U.S. Department of State, is possible through diplomacy and deterrence.
For GCSU students, it is still necessary to be aware of the effects and preventative measures regarding Russian government incentives. Instead of indulging in news from social media, it is recommended by the National Education Association that students get their information from trustworthy sources, or at least be able to recognize what is reliable.
“To avoid fake news, I fact-check statements especially for political news by relying on proven and trusted sources like The New York Times or Associated Press,” Galla said.
GCSU provides students with subscriptions and access to various news sites through the library’s online resources and databases. GALILEO is also an extension of the GCSU library that provides a wide range of news resources.
Students at GCSU have an automatic free subscription to The New York Times. For digital access, navigate to the website, accessnyt.com, choose “Georgia College and State University” and sign up using your GCSU email address.