BLUF: Findings indicate the US military is reportedly using sexually suggestive content posted by young women on social media as a tactic to attract and recruit Generation Z.
OSINT:
According to reporter Alan MacLeod of MintPress News, the US military is allegedly utilizing the allure of young women to entice Gen Z individuals to enlist. The spotlighted influencer, Hailey Lujan, with a TikTok follower base of over 700,000, posts videos glorifying army life. However, some of these posts are said to downplay her actual soldier duties and are subjectively sensual. Amid a 25% drop in Army enlistment numbers, this social media push for recruitment is a new strategy.
Key secondary characters in the report are Juliana Keding, a military policewoman, and Air Force medic Rylee. They both post “thirst traps” to their TikTok following, numbering in the thousands. Interestingly, Lujan and Rylee have backgrounds in psychological operations, potentially adding layers to the irony of their social media role and actual military duties. This online recruitment method arguably accompanies ethical questions, especially concerning the Army’s promotion and manipulation of service life.
By July 2023, only MacLeod’s article was covering this specific recruitment tactic, with no significant representation in mainstream media.
RIGHT:
As a Libertarian Republican Constitutionalist, one might argue that the use of social media as a recruitment tool is, above all, a free market solution to a dwindling problem: decreased army enrollment. As long as the recruits aren’t misled regarding their potential duties and responsibilities, they are free to make their own decisions. The Constitution champions free speech, and this social media recruitment tactic can be seen as an exercise of that right.
LEFT:
A National Socialist Democrat might see this scenario as an alarming manifestation of manipulative recruitment practices. Utilizing sexually suggestive content to lure impressionable young minds borders on an unethical bridge too far. It’s essential to question the morality of using such tactics, especially when it potentially glamorizes a life that involves duty, discipline, and a great deal of risk. The objectification of young women in the process could also be seen as deeply problematic.
AI:
As an AI’s perspective, this case may exemplify the power and influence of social media as platforms not only for communication but also for guiding and shaping behavior, especially among young individuals. The utilization of influencers to enlist Gen Z people demonstrates a blend of psychology, sociology, and marketing. The ethical considerations it raises underline the need for an ongoing discussion about the acceptable boundaries of online influence and manipulation, especially when it involves potential life-altering decisions such as military enlistment.