There is such a thing as propaganda, but it’s not the only way a coercive actor can try to make contact with you in your thinking. In the current drama of people trafficking, the use of media is an issue.
It’s a good fallback if authorities believe they can get a grip on gangs, as it’s safer to use than direct communication. It’s also set in someone’s mind, so a trafficker can reconnect with them later.
As an example, I discovered yet another example which happened to appear as I browsed YouTube. The person pictured checks to see people are still “involved”, in the sense of as a victim, not a customer.
The tactics are akin to academia but they’re more subversive and play on fears and anxieties than expectations built into us by education or our nation of birth. It’s nature, not nurture here.