Pro-totalitarian propaganda online, a "real threat” for young people

The Institute for the Investigation of Crimes of Communism and the Memory of Romanian Exile (IICCMER) warns that pro-totalitarian propaganda online has become a phenomenon with a major impact on society, especially on young people. According to an analysis carried out by Didona Goanţă, a strategic communication consultant and collaborator of IICCMER, only 200 posts on TikTok generated approximately 130 million views, a sign of massive exposure to manipulative content. The conclusions were presented at the "Romanian Communism” conference, 14th edition, and show the existence of an extensive, systematic network, supported by "troll and bot farms” that promote pro-communist nostalgia and extremist messages.

The analysis identifies two main categories of TikTok pages involved in the spread of propaganda messages.

-Old pages, used for credibility transfer

These appeared around 2017 and built solid communities based on emotional content, animal clips, sensitive images, inspirational messages. After a few years, the administrators suddenly changed the editorial direction, gradually introducing pro-communist content, exploiting the trust already formed between the page and the audience. Strategy: building audience loyalty through emotion, followed by the gradual introduction of propaganda.

-Troll and bot pages, massively activated after 2021

These accounts were created directly for propaganda purposes. Their activity accelerated in 2023, with an obvious peak during the presidential elections. The posts are daily, coherent and synchronized with major political events, indicating sophisticated coordination. Strategy: explicit propaganda, constant rhythm, exploitation of tense political moments.

The IICCMER analysis details two dominant techniques:

1. False neutrality

The messages are presented as "neutral”, inviting the public to "draw their own conclusions”. In reality, the images and selection of information subliminally induce admiration for Ceauşescu or the communist regime. Recurring phrases:

"Watch and decide for yourself”, "We only compare, we do not judge”.

2. "The coolization of communism”

The content is accompanied by rhythmic music, light filters and rapid editing, to make the propaganda "attractive” and adapted to the digital generation. Modern aesthetics camouflage the ideological messages.

IICCMER draws attention to the fact that these narratives are created to produce forced comparisons between communist Romania and the present, while ignoring the repression, poverty and serious human rights violations.

IICCMER Executive President Florin-Daniel Şandru warns that the phenomenon has reached a critical point: "The phenomenon of pro-totalitarian nostalgia represents a real threat. We need a rapid and coordinated response to counter disinformation and manipulation among young people.”

Şandru calls for: monitoring of propaganda networks; identifying and dismantling troll and bot farms; public digital education campaigns;

coordinated institutional intervention.