Educated Society and False Propaganda: A Dangerous Self-Deception

A comfortable yet misleading belief has long prevailed in society—that false propaganda mainly traps the uneducated. This notion gives us a sense of self-satisfaction, as if acquiring education automatically frees people from deception. Reality, however, is far harsher and more unsettling. Global research and recent experiences show that educated populations are also widely affected by false propaganda—often by propaganda that is more subtle, sophisticated, and carefully engineered.

This is not an exceptional failure; rather, it is a natural consequence of human psychological vulnerability. Education provides information, but it does not always instill disciplined thinking or the habit of verification. As a result, despite degrees, titles, or professional success, people often accept false information without question. We frequently forget the fundamental difference between education and critical thinking.

Another major weakness of educated society is ideological bias. People tend to believe information that aligns with their pre-existing assumptions, political positions, or beliefs. This tendency—known in psychology as confirmation bias—is propaganda’s most powerful weapon. Familiar beliefs, not reason, become the standard for judgment.

Emotion further intensifies this problem. Religion, patriotism, identity, fear, or hatred—when these emotions are activated, rationality naturally weakens. Modern propaganda therefore does not strike with facts, but with emotions. Even educated individuals can lose their sense of reason under such emotional shocks—there is nothing surprising about that.

Another alarming aspect is the disguise of credibility. False information today rarely comes from unknown sources. It arrives cloaked in the language of so-called experts, foreign research, international media, or quotes from familiar figures. Educated people often feel reassured by the name of the source, yet lack the time or patience to examine the credibility within that source.

This situation is further complicated by information overload. Every day, an overwhelming amount of news, posts, and analyses confront us. Human minds simply do not have the capacity to verify everything. As a result, simple explanations, flashy conclusions, or dramatic narratives are accepted as truth. This is where propaganda is most successful.

Perhaps the most dangerous element is excessive self-confidence. The belief—“I am educated, I won’t be deceived”—is precisely what makes people easiest to deceive. This self-deception often leaves educated society even more vulnerable to propaganda.

Today’s propaganda is no longer simplistic. It uses psychology, data analysis, artificial intelligence, and algorithms to target human weaknesses with precision. General education alone is not enough to confront it. What is needed is awareness, self-criticism, and disciplined thinking.

So what should be done? First, cultivate the courage to read viewpoints that challenge one’s own beliefs. Second, resist reacting instantly to emotionally charged information. Third, verify facts through multiple independent sources. And above all, ask a fundamental question: Why does this information want me to believe it?

Falling for false propaganda is not a sign of a lack of intelligence; it is a result of human vulnerability. But denying that vulnerability is the greatest danger of all. To build a democratic and conscious society, the educated population must first free itself from this self-deception. History repeatedly shows that when the educated become misled, the entire society pays the price.

ABM Zakirul Haque Titon

Editor