Spiral of Silence Спіраль мовчання (ua)

a phenomenon when we keep quiet in fear of the majority’s opinion, not wanting to be criticized by them. Internet surfers tend not to share their viewpoints if these viewpoints go against the dominant opinion of the forum. In this way, a few trolls can, by posting a number of comments, give the impression of a majority opinion even when it is not at all the case—it is enough to have a paralyzing effect on others. See also Astroturfing. A phenomenon that is used in Cognitive Hacking. People who feel like part of the minority are less likely to air their opinions. In a similar scenario to the Bandwagon Effect, the appearance of social conformity around an issue can cause people with contradictory opinions to remain silent. This appeals to fears of being excluded or singled-out because of an unpopular opinion.