Glory‑Driven Illusion

Glory‑Driven Illusion: The Delusion Manufactured by Bangladeshi Media and the Destruction of People’s Thinking Ability

Bangladeshi media—especially YouTube‑based news—has reached a stage where information is no longer the main product; emotion is. Content is created based on what the audience wants to hear, what they want to see, and which stories make them emotionally charged. As a result emerges the glory‑driven illusion—a glory‑based delusion where, no matter how horrific the reality is, the media presents the news as if “our side” is always winning, the opponent is weakening, and major shifts are happening in global politics. This illusion is not just misinformation—it gradually damages people’s thinking ability, empathy, and sense of reality.

The Israel–Gaza war and the recent Iran–Israel conflict are the clearest examples of this trend. While thousands were dying in Gaza and cities were being destroyed, many Bangladeshi YouTube channels presented the news as if every small act of resistance was a “historic victory.” A damaged tank, a downed drone, or a few casualties—these were portrayed as if the war had turned around. Similarly, even after massive strikes on Iran, many media outlets claimed that Iran had “changed the balance of power in the Middle East,” although in reality the country’s military infrastructure, economy, and political stability were severely damaged. This kind of content fuels viewers’ emotions but weakens their ability to understand the real situation.

This trend is not new. During the 1991 Gulf War and the 2001 Iraq War, Bangladeshi media created similar illusions. Newspapers and TV channels presented the news in such a way that it seemed Iraq was almost defeating the United States. Many people genuinely believed Iraq was “winning,” although in reality the country collapsed within days. In today’s digital age, that old tendency has become even stronger because algorithms now amplify it—algorithms that target human emotions. As a result, the media shows people what they want to see, and what they should see becomes invisible.

Bangladeshi media creates this illusion mainly to increase views, subscribers, popularity, and advertising revenue. Showing the truth reduces views, but showing stories of glory increases them. So the media chases views, not truth. In this chase, they exploit viewers’ emotions, use their ignorance, and gradually weaken their thinking ability. The media knows—people do not want to see reality; they want stories that satisfy their identity, religious emotions, or political biases. So the media presents those stories, even if they have little connection to reality.

This glory‑driven illusion deeply damages people’s thinking ability. First, it destroys critical thinking. When people repeatedly see “we are winning” narratives, they stop asking questions—what is true, what is false, which information should be verified, which is emotionally crafted. They form opinions based on emotion, not information. Second, it disconnects people from reality. The suffering of ordinary people in Gaza or Iran, humanitarian disasters, political instability—these do not reach people’s eyes because the media shows only “victory stories.” Third, it reduces empathy. When war is shown as “victory,” people no longer feel the horror of war; instead, they find joy in symbolic resistance. As a result, the ability to feel others’ pain diminishes.

The most dangerous aspect is that this illusion makes people easy to control. When the public cannot see reality, they cannot properly evaluate policymakers’ decisions, international politics, or humanitarian crises. They form opinions based on emotion, not logic. The media exploits this weakness to increase views, subscribers, and popularity. Because showing the truth reduces views, but showing glory increases them. So the media chases views, not truth—and people gradually become intellectually weaker.

Another frightening aspect of this illusion is that it creates division in society. When everyone believes the “we are winning” narrative, they see dissent as the enemy. Logic, information, analysis—these are replaced by emotion, anger, and identity‑based reactions. As a result, rational discussion decreases, and emotional shouting increases. In such an environment, telling the truth becomes dangerous because truth hurts people’s emotions. So people avoid the truth, and the media hides it.

Ultimately, the glory‑driven illusion is not just misinformation—it is a psychological framework that damages people’s thinking, empathy, sense of reality, and decision‑making ability. When Bangladeshi media sells this illusion as a product for views and popularity, they do not merely give viewers false information—they shape viewers’ minds in such a way that the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood gradually disappears. As long as this trend continues, the public will drift further away from reality, and the media will become even more powerful.