Social media has become what tabloids were a few decades ago — the main source of sensationalism. However, there is a significant difference: instead of tabloids, which fact-checked scandals, today's information flow is shaped by users — anyone can actively participate in creating and spreading content. This creates not only new opportunities but also new threats.

The lack of a filter in the form of an editorial team, simple advertising tools, anonymity, and access to a massive audience allow for cheaply and effectively implementing the most destructive media strategies for society.

Donald Trump is a master at this. His communication approach is borrowed from American football — it’s “Flooding the Zone,” which means constantly being the center of attention, flooding the information space with dubious sensational stories. Trump and his team generate streams of news, scandals, and information triggers, distracting opponents and preventing them from focusing on truly important issues.

Elements of the “Flooding the Zone” strategy:

Filling the field with “garbage” — creating an avalanche of news and scandals that distract from key issues.

Throwing before the weekend — announcing controversial decisions at the end of the week so that they are forgotten by Monday.

Constant chaos — the maximum number of small, uncoordinated attacks that prevent opponents from uniting and responding effectively.

A spectacle out of everything — every step and every decision becomes not just news, but a whole spectacle controlled by one person — the one trying to shape all the narratives.

Speed and unpredictability — the strategy is based on fast and unexpected moves that leave opponents no time to react effectively.

For many politicians and influential people, this strategy is victorious. However, there is another side to the coin: constant chaos and information overload can lead to burnout, even among the most devoted supporters.

Ultimately, social media, despite all their achievements in democracy and communication, has become a space for manipulation and informational noise. Just like classic tabloids, sensationalism and exaggeration define the agenda. If we want to live in a world where information has value and is not just a tool for manipulation, we need to learn to distinguish what is important from the junk that information pawns, driven by monetization algorithms, generate every day.

Information hygiene can help:

Turn off notifications for social networks and Telegram channels.

Dedicate specific time slots for interacting with information sources.

Use a short list of trusted information sources.

We are on the brink of a new stage in the evolution of information, where every day is a test of our ability to think critically and filter the real from the fake. It depends on each of us whether we can handle the information overload or fall into the trap of “flooding the zone,” stuck in dopamine-driven scrolling.