Mass Psychology and Propaganda in the Digital Age: From Anonymous Forums to Semi-Anonymous Crowds

This paper analyzes the interaction between mass psychology and propaganda in the contemporary digital environment by examining case studies from both the United States and Japan. In the U.S., X (formerly Twitter) has become the primary platform for propaganda, where figures such as former President Donald Trump and QAnon-affiliated influencers directly mobilize the masses. In Japan, the comment sections of Yahoo! News articles serve as an arena where the public’s responses accumulate, making visible how propaganda is received and solidified. Moreover, YouTube comment sections—despite being tied to Google accounts and thus semi- anonymous rather than fully anonymous—reveal that extreme or conspiratorial opinions continue to surface without hesitation. This indicates that mass psy- chology operates beyond anonymity, as the dynamics of crowds engulf individuals regardless of their identifiability. These observations highlight a contemporary phe- nomenon: the digital crowd becomes massified not only through anonymity but also under conditions of semi-anonymity. The conclusion argues that digital crowds, as observed today, remain continuous with the structures of propaganda and mass 1 mobilization seen in the prewar era, with their influence and dangers persisting in transformed forms.