Is Our Mind Still Ours? A Case Study in Cyberpsychology and Social Influence

By Sumona Banerji, MDES, Guest Blogger

Imagine a U.S. state voting on whether to begin leaving the country. On October 19, 2026, a Canadian province posed a version of that question, and cyberpsychology asks: who was steering the answer?

Alberta is proud and rich in oil and gas—comparable to a state like Texas—and many people there feel the national government in Ottawa is too distant to make decisions about their economy. Others say Alberta is safer and stronger inside of Canada, with its shared markets, military, and institutions.

Both camps care about the same things: freedom, security, and a good future for their kids. They often disagree about who or what threatens those things. That gap provides the potential for social manipulation.

The last question on Alberta’s October provincial referendum ballot asked voters to decide whether to start a legal process that could someday lead to a binding vote on separation. It would not have, on its own, made Alberta independent. Reports, however, indicated that about half of Albertans called the question confusing. This kind of confusion can present another potential opening for public manipulation.

Why Studying How We Think Matters

Cyberpsychology examines how technology shapes the way we think, feel, and act. Our brains run on mental shortcuts, learned patterns, routines, and expectations to process information efficiently and reduce the need for conscious effort. These automatic processes help conserve cognitive resources.

Four of these shortcuts often have the most impact:

• Feelings first. Fear and anger can grab attention before analysis does. A social media post shouting "Alberta is under attack" does its job before you check a single fact. Calm brains weigh evidence. Frightened brains hunt for threats.
• Familiar feels true. A 2026 review of 182 studies found that hearing a claim more than once makes it feel more true. Picture a slogan you have seen two hundred times. The effect is small but reliable.
• Identity. "I support this" can slowly turn into "I am the kind of person who supports this." Facts begin to feel like insults, and being smart does not always help. Sharp thinkers often use their skills to defend their side.
• Overload. Hundreds of conflicting claims can act like an overwhelming mental attack. People can get worn down and experience decision paralysis. According to the Reuters Institute, trust in news sits at 37% worldwide, the lowest they have recorded to date.

Intelligence is the Engine. Awareness is the Steering

So, who benefits when neighbors stop trusting each other? The Canadian government describes foreign information manipulation as a coordinated effort to change the information environment for political goals. In addition, campaigns and influencers can also profit from the increased engagement created by outrage.

This does not make every angry post inaccurate. Albertans, regardless of their views on separation, have real grievances. Manipulation works best when it is attached to something real.

This is not only a Canadian story. Any democracy can be at risk from the same playbook.

Training Brains in Advance

The good news is that minds can be trained to spot misinformation.

“Pre-bunking” is the practice of warning people about misleading information and teaching them how to recognize manipulation before they encounter it. Show people a small, clearly labeled trick, and they’ll spot the real thing sooner next time. The effect may fade over time, however, so people can benefit from reminder “booster shots” to keep their training sharp.

Experts recommend six moves before sharing information, arguing, or voting on an issue:

1. Pause.
2. Find the “missing piece.”
3. Steelman (argue for the sake of perspective) for the other side.
4. Separate facts from assumptions.
5. Ask who benefits.
6. Protect compromise.

You may be familiar with the old story of the blind men and the elephant. Each man touches one part and swears he knows the whole animal. Borrow their lesson: “I may be experiencing something real. But I may not yet be understanding the whole thing.”

Before anyone can defend a country’s borders, its citizens need to keep hold of something more basic: their own minds.

To read more about this topic, visit the MindShield website.

Sumona Banerji is a graduate student in Capitol Tech’s cyberpsychology program. Learn more about our degree offerings.