Social engineering has proven it is possible to know the societal or 'systematic' determinants of human 'behavior' in a way that permits them to be manipulated and controlled from afar.
Our minds are vulnerable. The weaknesses in our thinking and decision-making processes are well documented. When these vulnerabilities and weaknesses are exposed to professionals with nefarious intent who are trained in social engineering techniques bad things happen. Social media and messaging platforms both enable scaled access to and profit from these vulnerabilities. They expose the brains of billions (Facebook has over 2.7 billion users) to these techniques by selling and promoting access to our innermost feelings and emotions.
It is critical that we as humans, neighbors and communities understand how social engineering techniques work on our brains and our societies. We must recognize these methodologies so we can defend against them. We need to identify them and call them out. We must warn others. We must legislate against these techniques and hold social media and messaging platforms accountable.
Social media apps and platforms are used by our children, the elderly and everyone in between. These platforms give direct access to our brains. They support mind manipulation at scale. What follows is an extensive, although incomplete list of the strategies, tools and techniques of social engineering I have gleaned from literally hundreds or articles, academic papers and reports. I have organized them into six categories: Amplify and Promote, Constraining, Emotions and Motivations, Mind Manipulation, Personal Information and Strategies and Tactics.