Memetic hazard

Applied information hazards.

Cognitohazard — A term used to refer to objects that are dangerous to sense or perceive, whether through sight, sound, smell, taste, or feeling (not necessarily simply by touch).

A memetic hazard is defined as information with three main attributes. The first attribute is that it spreads from person to person, whether through personal contact or some form of recording.

The second attribute is that this information causes some form of distress, whether as benign as mental stress to the individual or as dangerous as societal dysfunction.

The third attribute is that it must cause preoccupation–that is to say, it maintains sufficient presence in the host’s mind that either a significant portion of his attention remains focused on it, or it plays a significant part in his decision-making process.[1]

Memetic hazards are extreme bad memes - or collections of bad memes. They are sources of culturally-induced harm.[2]

Propaganda represents a memetic hazard on a national scale.

See also :

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