How Social Media Users Are Duped into Sharing Ads Disguised as Historical Content
Have you seen this image somewhere on social media?
Social media is flooded with images and posts that seem to provide insightful or inspiring historical content. A striking photograph of Cherokee women accompanied by a caption about their leadership and warrior roles might appear educational and shareworthy at first glance. However, many of these posts have an ulterior motive: driving engagement to promote products and generate sales. Behind the scenes, they often link to merchandise websites, such as print-on-demand stores, far removed from the cultures they claim to represent.
In this article, we'll explore how these campaigns operate, why they succeed, and how you can spot and avoid sharing AI-generated, historically inaccurate images and deceptive ads.
The Deceptive Strategy Behind Viral "Historical" Posts
Companies exploiting this strategy aim to blend advertising with cultural pride and historical admiration. They create visually arresting images—often AI-generated or digitally manipulated—and pair them with emotionally charged or motivational captions. The goal? To get users to engage, share, and unknowingly promote their product links.
For instance, an image of three women in traditional Native American attire, labeled as "Cherokee warriors," might inspire admiration. The accompanying text emphasizes their strength, leadership, and historical importance. This narrative resonates with viewers, particularly those interested in indigenous cultures, feminism, or history. But often, the image and text are not sourced from reliable historical references. Instead, they're designed to drive traffic to websites selling t-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise—products that often have no meaningful connection to the culture they claim to represent.
Why Do These Posts Go Viral?
Emotional Appeal: The content taps into themes like empowerment, pride, and history, evoking a strong emotional response that motivates users to share.
Visual Impact: AI-generated or digitally manipulated images are often polished and dramatic, making them eye-catching.
Misplaced Trust: Social media users tend to trust what they see and read without verifying the source.
Engagement Algorithms: Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter prioritize content with high engagement rates, inadvertently boosting these deceptive posts.
The Role of AI in Creating Misleading Historical Images
AI tools excel at generating realistic yet fabricated images. They blend historical aesthetics with modern design precision, making it difficult to discern authenticity. Here are a few common characteristics of AI-generated images:
Unrealistic Symmetry: AI often produces faces and poses that are too perfect or symmetrical to be natural. Men and women from history didn't often adhere to modern beauty standards. If it looks to good to be true, or authentic, it probably is.
Inconsistent Details: Hands, accessories, and intricate clothing patterns may appear warped or oddly rendered.
Overly Uniform Lighting: The lighting and shadows in AI-generated images often lack the complexity seen in real photographs. Especially for outdoor photography. The vast majority of historic images of people are posed and in a photography studio.
Generic Backgrounds: The settings in AI-generated images may seem flat, vague, or disconnected from the subjects.
By recognizing these markers, users can critically assess the authenticity of an image.
How to Spot a Fake
Here are some steps you can take to identify whether an image or post is misleading:
Check the Source: Verify whether the post cites a credible source or archive for the image and information.
Research the Image: Use reverse image search tools like Google Images or TinEye to find the origin of the photo.
Inspect Metadata: Download the image and examine its metadata for signs of digital manipulation or AI creation.
Look for AI Imperfections: Pay attention to details like hands, facial features, and clothing patterns.
Be Skeptical of Links: Posts linking to unrelated websites, like merchandise stores, are red flags.
The Real Harm in Sharing Deceptive Posts
By sharing posts with inaccurate historical information, users unintentionally perpetuate misconceptions about the cultures and histories they aim to celebrate. Worse, they help exploit these cultures for profit. Websites like the one this post was linked to—a print-on-demand t-shirt and merchandise website registered to an owner in Reykjavik, Iceland—capitalize on this goodwill without giving back to the communities they appropriate.
Authentic cultural education and appreciation should come from verified sources, historians, and members of the communities themselves. Supporting indigenous-owned businesses, artists, and initiatives is a much more meaningful way to celebrate their heritage.
Conclusion
Social media can be a powerful tool for education and cultural exchange, but it’s also a fertile ground for exploitation. Posts that appear to honor history or promote awareness often have hidden commercial motives. By learning to identify AI-generated images and understanding the strategies behind these campaigns, you can avoid being misled—and help others do the same.
Remember: Sharing responsibly is just as important as sharing enthusiastically. The next time you see a stunning historical post, take a moment to verify its authenticity before hitting "share."
Transparency & Credibility
I understand that it might be hard to hear this from me—someone who shares historical images on social media with links to my website, where you can buy my book. Why should you trust me and the images and stories I share over a post like this supposed picture and description of Cherokee women?
Trust is built on transparency and credibility. On my website, I make it clear who I am—my name, my real name, Matthew Kerns, is right there at the top of the page and on the cover of the book I sell. I’ve won awards like the SPUR and Western Heritage Award for my research and writing about American history. But more importantly, I back my claims with thorough research and a passion for preserving and sharing authentic history. While I would love for you to buy and read my book, my primary goal is to foster genuine exploration and learning about our shared history. That’s what drives me, and I hope it’s what earns your trust.
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