Social Media During The Vietnam War

Through their eyes, the media's portrayal of war has deeply captured and distorted the public's overall perception. Propaganda-led reports during WWI and WWII emphasized bravery and courage triumphing over evil, inheriting a coherent story of the 'good' vs 'bad' sides. This succinctly opposes the realism of the Vietnam War, where unprecedented first-hand perspectives of destruction and death fuelled anti-war sentiments and contributed to the US's eventual withdrawal. Media has revolutionized from newspapers to film and finally social media, each dramatic shift furthering control over public perception. In the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, social media has become warped as a weapon of war, a vehicle to shape and manipulate the narrative presented

Propaganda was a common theme of media emerging through WWI through its manipulating grip over public perception. WW1, starting in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, ruptured the existing tensions arising in Europe. Propaganda was skilfully used to capture the public’s attention, painting a series of heroic and courageous stories as the ‘good’ vs ‘bad’ mentality was consistently emphasized. The realism of combat was ill conveyed in film and print media. War was seen as entertainment for many, watching scripted silent films and newsreels that sensationalized conflict and contributed to a pro-war attitude, masking the brutal casualties of war and battles. Example:. Propaganda was a persuasive tool present in advertisements as bold, vibrant posters ignited a sense of patriotism, national pride, and obligation to the country within its people. For example, the infamous Uncle Sam recruitment poster. This poster diligently establishes the need for duty with U.S.A.’s representation, Uncle Sam, dressed in America-tied colours of red, white, and blue to stir the emotional response of national identity and strongly felt

Investigative journalists had the freedom to report virtually anything from the conflict. As media censorship rapidly declined, uncensored and graphical content steadily became common, heightening the ongoing tensions between the government and the public holding antiwar attitudes. The television wars, as the conflict was dubbed, provided instant footage, radio, and news every evening, showcasing the brutal realities of war in full colour. Americans were confronted with the horrors of war, such as the My Lai Massacre, which was a mass killing of as many as 500 unarmed villagers including women, children, and the elderly shot at close range in cold blood. This war crime was documented by Sgt. Ron Haeberle and his photos became some of the most recognizable images of the war, spurring the frequent question asked by the American people, why were they even there? The public’s trust in the government’s spun narrative of their successes in Vietnam faltered as these contradicting realities came to light. As journalists flocked to Vietnam, a total of 63 were confirmed killed while covering the