The Impact of Controlling Discourse on Shifting Social Norms

Manipulating discourse can lead to shifting social norms, where people's barometer of what is acceptable changes based on the information they are exposed to. By getting individuals to believe in nonsensical or extreme ideas, the distance between acceptable and unacceptable behavior can widen over time. This manipulation of discourse is seen in societal debates around topics like trans athletes or gender identity, where pushing certain narratives can alter people's perceptions of what is okay and what is not.