Academics have discovered a troubling increase in interactions between current and former U.S. military personnel and a broad network of extremists and international bad actors on social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). These interactions are part of coordinated campaigns aimed at dividing America, with some traced back to foreign adversaries such as Russia and China.
While many veterans may not fall for disinformation, the risk of inadvertently encountering content backed by foreign adversaries remains high. Experts recommend that veterans and others check information against multiple trusted sources before accepting it as fact.
“Be skeptical of information that only appears on obscure or unfamiliar websites,” one expert advised. “Always judge the credibility of the source and the evidence they present.”
Veterans are urged to stay vigilant and protect themselves from becoming unwitting tools of foreign disinformation efforts.
