ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of propaganda

Propaganda is when people try to persuade other people to believe something. It can be done through different ways, like pictures or speeches. People have been doing propaganda for a very long time, even before you were born!

A long, long time ago, some people would try to spread stories about their leaders to make them seem better than they really were. These stories were usually passed down by word of mouth, meaning people would tell others about them. Later on, when people learned how to write, they started making posters and pamphlets to spread their messages.

During times of war, governments often used propaganda to convince people to support their side. For example, during World War II, the governments of many countries used posters and videos to encourage people to join the army or to buy war bonds. They also used propaganda to make people afraid of the enemy and to hate them.

Propaganda can be used for good reasons too! For example, people might use propaganda to encourage others to recycle or to stop bullying. The important thing is to make sure that the message being spread is truthful and not harmful to anyone.

In short, propaganda is when someone tries to convince others to believe something through words, pictures, or other methods. It has been used for a very long time and can be used for both good and bad reasons. It is important to make sure that the message being spread is truthful and not harmful.