Change mainstream media's perception on "Bitcoin being used by thieves"

[vennali]

I keep seeing the news that "Bitcoin is used for drugs", "Bitcoin is primarily used by thieves" pretty much every other day. The well informed people know that it isnt true but the mainstream media's perception stays the same. How do we change it and can we?

[magneto]

People who are going to be sheep and believe anything they hear on the internet, or on the TV, or from their government and not do their own research are going to keep doing so until something drastic changes their mindset. The fact is, stupid/lazy people are going to be stupid/lazy for as long as possible.

I don't think the mindset is that now, however. Maybe 3 or 4 years go, you ask anyone about bitcoin and you'll be greeted with responses like "isn't that a ponzi", or "oh, isn't that the new currency that is funding terrorism/drugs?" However, in the last couple of years, there has surprisingly been a lot of positive coverage about crypto-currencies and it's lead to a change in public perception and is prompting a lot of people to actually read about the technology before brushing it off.

[hatshepsut93]

It's really hard to do this, because you'd need to change the mainstream media themselves:

1. They often take money or are owned by the elite, and the elite is not interested in seeing Bitcoin succeed.
2. Mainstream media love negative news, they know that they generate much more clicks than positive news.

But if you want to cover Bitcoin in a way that could appeal to everyone, you can avoid saying that it's a tool for dismantling fiat money and banks, and instead say that it's a currency with low fees, global transactions without borders, instant microtransactions (LN), etc.

[vennali]

People who are going to be sheep and believe anything they hear on the internet, or on the TV, or from their government and not do their own research are going to keep doing so until something drastic changes their mindset. The fact is, stupid/lazy people are going to be stupid/lazy for as long as possible.

I don't think the mindset is that now, however. Maybe 3 or 4 years go, you ask anyone about bitcoin and you'll be greeted with responses like "isn't that a ponzi", or "oh, isn't that the new currency that is funding terrorism/drugs?" However, in the last couple of years, there has surprisingly been a lot of positive coverage about crypto-currencies and it's lead to a change in public perception and is prompting a lot of people to actually read about the technology before brushing it off.

I just read an article today about the same. All I had to do was google Bitcoin and there it was. "Bitcoin is Not as Popular as it Used to be, But Thieves Still Love it" This was the title of it. Which is that triggered me into this topic.

[supine]

It might be difficult to do this since people already had this idea that crypto is being used in the dark web for drugs, terrorism, scam, and etc because users are anonymous.

In time, people will find out the convenience of cryptocurrency as a whole. The problem with media is, it is too powerful that even false information or news can convince and influence people's ideas or perceptions about things.

[raulelmagico]

Hi there,

I think change is already in progress.
I.e. yesterday, the ARD - a german-state-owned, major TV broadcaster (like BBC) - posted a very positive article on their webside.
No mentioning of money laundring or bitcoin gangster stuff, instead it was described as a very serious store of value, very comparable to gold.

I think this year will have a major impact on the future of crypo currencies, more and more people will respect and accept this.

But a "full adoption/acceptance" will take more than a decade from now, just think about the broad scepticism towards the internet (in the beginning), amazon, tesla or renewable energy
and so much more new technologies which where (or will be) game changing...
Maybe this is because of the demographic situation in most western countries (major part of the population is 50+)

But in mid- to longterm its inevitable!

This is the mentioned article;.
https://boerse.ard.de/anlageformen/kryptowaehrungen/bitcoin-etabliert-sich-als-krisenwaehrung100.html

[kaya11]

I keep seeing the news that "Bitcoin is used for drugs", "Bitcoin is primarily used by thieves" pretty much every other day. The well informed people know that it isnt true but the mainstream media's perception stays the same. How do we change it and can we?

The only ones that makes it worst are bias media around the world. The good sides if the coin is somewhat drag to one illegal transaction of a user of bitcoin network, and thus it is worsen by the journalist by somehow sugar coating just to attract readers, despite the fact they are damaging the image of bitcoin and the crypto space.

[LeGaulois]

The best we can do is to give it time to prove them wrong, they will face reality. The piece of eight, considered as the currency used by maritime piracy, was finally used internationally by colonies. If I'm correct even the US dollar comes from it, hence the name 'dollar'.

In the beginning, they said Btc is a gadget but now it can challenge institutions they started to see it differently. A problem is Bitcoin is misunderstood from the mass, but it can change the whole economy, it's only a matter to change the mentalities. People believe in capitalism, Bitcoin can make them believe in humanity.

From "In God, we trust" they will change to "In code, we trust" and the media outlet will follow the trend.

[joinfree]

Most governments have succeeded in bad-mouthing bitcoin and its goal but we as crypto enthusiasts know perfectly that this is not true so it's incumbent on us to educate people and let them know the real use of bitcoin. Definitely bad and corrupt people have taken advantage of the anonymous feature of bitcoin transactions but we need to make it clear that, this does not define bitcoin.

We can do this if everybody puts a little effort in it and educate people within your own niche.

[Ucy]

I keep seeing the news that "Bitcoin is used for drugs", "Bitcoin is primarily used by thieves" pretty much every other day. The well informed people know that it isnt true but the mainstream media's perception stays the same. How do we change it and can we?

You probably should ask them whether fiat currencies are used by thieves or not. if they say no, you could get them proofs. I bet you will find alot of them and even those happening on a daily basis.
By the way, I think we have less crime activities on real cryptosphere(decentralized crypto world) than on centralized ones. I believe alot of crime problems in centralized world can be best handled on well decentralized and advanced crypto world.. Who doesn't want truely decentralized, secured, transparent, accountable, , immutable, reputable, privacy/anonymity centered systems? I believe this can be achieved on decentralized crypto.

[Wexnident]

Not the perception of who uses it but rather what are its proper uses. Information regarding who uses it should actually naturally follow. To be perfectly honest, they're pretty much doing biased reports regarding it, since really? Crypto/Bitcoin being used for illegal activities? Uhm hello? If Crypto was being badmouthed this bad when it came about, why is fiat still standing? Heck, we should've already boycotted it because of the illegal transactions some people/criminals ( ehem, government) do.

It's like the wrong perception where people judge the money from where it came from. If it came from a random citizen, then it's safe, but if it came from a criminal, then it's "illegal". There isn't anything illegal mediums IMO, only illegal methods/ways/paths.

[KonstantinosM]

People no longer trust mass media like they used to. When bitcoin started people still trusted them, nowadays a lot of people get their news from the Internet and inherently distrust the mainstream media.

We don't need to change the mainstream media's perception of bitcoin. We only need a few million users and to advance the technology. Since fiat just keeps getting printed and expanded through loans and other debt, and since it's controlled by the banks all it takes is a few mishaps/missteps for people to get fed up with the system and move to crypto.

For example, if you kept your money in crypto, you wouldn't need to worry about unfair civil asset forfeiture as the money could never be spotted by a corrupt local police officer and then used to buy donut making machines or whatever.


In the long term the mainstream media will act as if they were always on our side. Bitcoin is like the Internet. It's a disruptive new technology that will eventually become so mainstream and important to our everyday lives that it will be ridiculous to simply link it to criminality or compare it to a ponzi scheme or dismiss it.


The mainstream media ridiculed the Internet and E-mail as well. I wasn't there for it but you can pull up all the quotes.

[DoublerHunter]

I keep seeing the news that "Bitcoin is used for drugs", "Bitcoin is primarily used by thieves" pretty much every other day. The well informed people know that it isnt true but the mainstream media's perception stays the same. How do we change it and can we?

^ There is no point for us to change to perspective the mainstream media are trying to show to the mass. The true crypto enthusiasts and the true intelligent viewer are aware of the reality that cryptocurrencies weren't only used for theft or any crime related stuff.
The media has exactly less knowledge about cryptocurrency than us the people who are really involved in the industry. We don't even really need to please anyone or the mass that cryptocurrency isn't used just to do these things. It is their choice to be ignorant, as well if they will believe in the media's statements about cryptocurrency without doing their further research.
Nevertheless, We don't need to change their perception, it wouldn't help us, as well. We don't need to prove anything.

[hugeblack]

The point of change occurs when thinking about Bitcoin is a way to make daily payments and is frequently used. When people become familiar with something, they appear to formulate motives when that thing is attacked.
The same thing happens with money, but because we use money for a lot of good things. Everyone thinks that the bad people misuse the money, not the money itself.

The general trend of Bitcoin is that it is an excellent opportunity for investors, so the opposite of it is the word bubble.

[Oceat]

It's really hard to do this, because you'd need to change the mainstream media themselves:

1. They often take money or are owned by the elite, and the elite is not interested in seeing Bitcoin succeed.
2. Mainstream media love negative news, they know that they generate much more clicks than positive news.

But if you want to cover Bitcoin in a way that could appeal to everyone, you can avoid saying that it's a tool for dismantling fiat money and banks, and instead say that it's a currency with low fees, global transactions without borders, instant microtransactions (LN), etc.

Such as fake news will exist just to satisfy the urge of the curiosity of the people but if you know how to seek the legitimacy of the news, you will stop watching TV, clicking satire article and focus on finding the truth. It's just funny how they promote goodness on their series yet most of their news was published from out of nowhere to make it look like the outside world is really bad yet they are the ones that are brainwashing the people.

I think it's not new that Bitcoin will always get involved to such events in the mainstream media because this is the trend as of the moment. They like to make it as a hot topic when someone/something is trending that they keep finding faults than finding the good ways.

[TheNewAnon135246]

According to a recent Chainalysis report, only 0.08% of all received crypto was coming from darknet markets.

[LUCKMCFLY]

~snip~

In all cases of Bitcoin or FIAT currency, good and bad things can be done, the greatest crimes have been planned and executed with FIAT money. Now for many the biggest culprit of crimes is Bitcoin, and it is not so.

I think that each technological tool can be used for good or bad depending on the hands in which it is handled. In fact some time ago thanks to Bitcoin, they managed to dismantle a children's traffic business on the Dark Web, that's a great thing, if crime can be attacked using Blockchain and Bitcoin.

[pixie85]

The best way to change it is to present them with facts but mainstream media have their own agenda in everything they do. Either they support a political party or a bank that is their partner or shareholder.

The facts are: fiat money is mostly used by drug addicts and thieves. How many crimes arountd the world involve Bitcoin and how many fiat money? Not a minute passes by without someone being robbed of their money somewhere.

[HarmonyA]

I keep seeing the news that "Bitcoin is used for drugs", "Bitcoin is primarily used by thieves" pretty much every other day. The well informed people know that it isnt true but the mainstream media's perception stays the same. How do we change it and can we?

By being sincere as a Crypto evangelist.  Portraying good image when dealing with people on bitcoin and every sphere of life.
Also tell people that Bitcoin and Blockchain innovation could do to banks what mobile phones did to utility poles.
Cryptographic forms of money can become units of account just if there is an amicable and favorable administrative condition.
It is fiat cash that is the best social test on humankind, Bitcoin is simply a techno-response to that.

[dothebeats]

We can't, unfortunately.

As long as mainstream media is controlled by people who care less about true journalism and honest-to-goodness reporting, we won't be seeing news that are true and are really happening on some disruptive tech that challenges the current system.

No matter how 'clean' bitcoin becomes, the mainstream media will always tag it as something that is connected with drug dealers, hitmen and other nefarious people. Even if the whole world uses bitcoin in the future, it will always have its tainted history somewhere on a newspaper or an article.