Information operations

Information operations are like a game of pretend or make-believe, but with real-world consequences. It's when some people use information to influence what other people think, feel or do.

Imagine you are playing a game of superheroes with your friends. You each have a superpower and you use it to help your team. Information operations are like one group of kids pretending to be superheroes and they try to convince the other group that they should win the game. They might tell lies, trick the other group or make themselves seem more powerful than they really are, just to convince the others to think or do what they want.

Sometimes, people might use information operations to try and make people think a certain way about something that's not true. This is called propaganda. It's like when your older brother tells you that he's the best at video games and you shouldn't even bother trying to beat him because he'll always win. He might be telling you this so you won't challenge him and he can keep playing uninterrupted.

But not all information operations are bad. There are also people who use information to help others and make the world a better place. They might use information to warn people about dangers or to give them important information that can help them make better decisions.

So, remember that information operations are like a game with real-world consequences. Sometimes people use it to trick others, but it can also be used to help others. The important thing is to always be aware of what information you receive and to always try and verify the truth of what you hear.