Cults, Control, and the Death of Critical Thinking

Ever feel like reality is glitching? You’re not alone.In this episode of Unmasking, we dive into the terrifyingly casual collapse of critical thinking — from TikTok echo chambers and AI hallucinations to modern politics that feel more like cults than campaigns.📉 A wild Columbia Journalism Review study found that AI tools cite fake news over 60% of the time. We break down how the internet is quietly (and not-so-quietly) radicalizing us — and why your algorithm might be gaslighting you.🧠 @yewleea breaks down how far-right movements use cult-like psychology to gain power, while Masha shares personal run-ins with TikTok conspiracy theorists — and the chaos of trying to stay sane in a world where no one reads past the headline.Also in this episode:📲 Signal’s spicy rebrand🧃 Media literacy 101📉 Why facts alone won’t save usFollow us Here:MashaYuliaYouTubeGlossary:AI search engines cite incorrect news sources at an alarming 60% rate, study saysHands Off – Save the U.S. Protest on April 5thWhat are AI Hallucinations?The Invisible Battles of Ukrainian Military Medics — a powerful doc on the frontline heroes you never see on the news.🎧 Chapters:00:00-Welcome to the Simulation + Intro01:09-Truth.exe Has Stopped Working in ChatGPT10:27-Politics: The Cult That Went Viral14:46-Far-Right Psychology for Dummies17:57-Corruption Olympics: France vs Ukraine22:30-How to Break Up With Your Info Echo Chamber25:02-Maple MAGAs: Canada is Getting Spicy28:26-Ex Files: Yulia's Haunting Past TikTok Edition32:45-Grey's Anatomy: IRL in a War Zone Edition39:11-Disinfo: The New Digital Drug Making us Numb43:33-How to Un-Trump Your Timeline45:25-Soft Cult Summer50:57-Internet Survival Guide58:31-Why We're Still Here + Love Letters to Listeners