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The Sneaky Language Tricks Cults Use to Influence You | Amanda Montell | TED

In the age of social media and wellness trends, the comments section is as good as a cult compound, says linguist and cultural commentator Amanda Montell. Using Taylor Swift’s throng of devoted Swifties as her guide, she exposes three sneaky language tactics that cults use to influence us (for better or for worse), revealing why…

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In the age of social media and wellness trends, the comments section is as good as a cult compound, says linguist and cultural commentator Amanda Montell. Using Taylor Swift’s throng of devoted Swifties as her guide, she exposes three sneaky language tactics that cults use to influence us (for better or for worse), revealing why none of us are as cult-proof as we’d like to think. (Created in collaboration with ‪@ignite; Recorded at TEDNext 2025 on November 11, 2025)

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19 Comments

19 Comments

  1. @ajames283

    April 16, 2026 at 11:17 am

    “My truth” 😂

    • @mkhud50n

      April 16, 2026 at 12:20 pm

      Definitely a cult slogan.

  2. @MadaoHasegawe

    April 16, 2026 at 11:30 am

    Astrophage Intro 😭📈

  3. @mendynoma4272

    April 16, 2026 at 11:38 am

    Thank you for this very interesting presentation.

  4. @MegaBaellchen

    April 16, 2026 at 11:47 am

    While this cult is trying to make you immune to logic and nuance, and see the world as a giant trench war, where you are either with the good guys or with the bad guys.

  5. @abrarmullan1

    April 16, 2026 at 12:02 pm

    Now a days, I feel every croud is trying to become a cult. Social Media made is a lot simpler

  6. @AnD-1999

    April 16, 2026 at 12:07 pm

    Meanwhile kids in the USA have to swear the pledge of allegiance before they are able to understand what that means… People in the USA hardly seem to be able to think for themselves…. They’re not thought to do so…. Hence their current government

  7. @patoland18

    April 16, 2026 at 12:12 pm

    Her books are good

  8. @mkhud50n

    April 16, 2026 at 12:19 pm

    Stores use cult marketing strategies. Those “membership” and “loyalty programs” are actually cults.
    Btw the trend of talking about cults is cult behavior too.

    • @combatcritique

      April 16, 2026 at 1:16 pm

      You seem to be a part of some cult

    • @mkhud50n

      April 16, 2026 at 1:19 pm

      @combatcritiquethank you for proving my point. 😂

    • @youtubeisrunbyamonkey

      April 16, 2026 at 1:29 pm

      When you only know how to swing a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

    • @mkhud50n

      April 16, 2026 at 1:35 pm

      @youtubeisrunbyamonkey💯🎯

  9. @adcashmo

    April 16, 2026 at 12:20 pm

    TED is a cult

  10. @stevepretorius3329

    April 16, 2026 at 3:15 pm

    I was hoping for a video I could share with my family, sadly it is too shallow and doesn’t give any particular insight that is worth it. Maybe if the video was twice as long she could have done it?

  11. @Julierue

    April 16, 2026 at 4:04 pm

    Thank you thank you thank you for sharing this with humanity. We all need to learn how to think for ourselves.

  12. @Eminetics

    April 16, 2026 at 7:42 pm

    Yo my work literally uses all these words dialy

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Professor Meghan Sullivan explains how she made asking questions into a career #TEDTalks

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11 People Had an Idea — Now They’re on the TED Stage | LIVE from TED2026!

This special session from TED2026: All of Us brings together 11 speakers from around the world, each selected through TEDx-hosted Idea Search events. Now, they take the stage at our flagship conference in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Experience a full lineup of thought-provoking talks, along with unscripted moments that are sure to surprise and delight. Hear…

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This special session from TED2026: All of Us brings together 11 speakers from around the world, each selected through TEDx-hosted Idea Search events. Now, they take the stage at our flagship conference in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Experience a full lineup of thought-provoking talks, along with unscripted moments that are sure to surprise and delight.

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Joshua Johnson — Chicago, USA
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Sukriti — Mumbai, India
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Tim Cernak — Chicago, USA
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Reggie Watts

TED2026 is streaming live from Vancouver! Be one of the first to watch every talk from the full conference, as it happens — including some exclusive moments — with TED Live:

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How to Find Your Purpose (W/ Yara Shahidi) | How to Be a Better Human | TED

“Optimism is not what exists in a vacuum on your best day, but how you’re pulling through for yourself on your worst days,” says actress Yara Shahidi. Yara is known for her sitcoms Black-ish and its spinoff Grown-ish. She shares what she learned from creating a “Hard Yes” list, why she chose to attend Harvard…

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“Optimism is not what exists in a vacuum on your best day, but how you’re pulling through for yourself on your worst days,” says actress Yara Shahidi. Yara is known for her sitcoms Black-ish and its spinoff Grown-ish. She shares what she learned from creating a “Hard Yes” list, why she chose to attend Harvard after acting, and why she thinks anyone can find their highest order if they pay attention.

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The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.

TED videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at

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