The researchers are doing what nation states have been a̶t̶t̶e̶m̶p̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ doing for decades. People have no idea what’s c̶o̶m̶i̶n̶g̶ happened.

States have been astroturfing internet for a long time. It’s gotten exponentially worse since the Ukraine and Gaza wars though.

People have no idea what's coming because people in general haven't been kept up to date on the state of the art of subjects like thought reform, malign influence, coercion, or torture.

As such they often hold opinions that are not based in fact on reality, and instead are based on false belief making them even more susceptible.

Can people even be people if they lack rationality? Human's are much more closer to animals when those people cannot use reason.