intimorire

Intimorire is a term used in speculative media theory to describe a persuasive tactic that seeks to establish an impression of intimate proximity between a message sender and an audience in order to increase susceptibility to influence. The word appears to be a portmanteau of intimate and a root associated with fear or coercion, and it was introduced in scholarly discussions in the early 2020s to capture a particular class of persuasive strategies on digital platforms.

Core features include direct address, tone mirroring, personalized storytelling, and the use of data-driven tailoring to align content with users’ social roles or identities. The aim is to reduce perceived emotional distance, making messages feel familiar and trustworthy, which can in turn lower defenses against manipulation. Intimorire can operate across media formats, including text, video, and interactive content, and is often facilitated by algorithms that curate flow and repetition to reinforce a sense of personal relevance.

Contexts and applications of intimorire techniques span political, commercial, and social domains. They may appear in targeted advertisements, influencer content, and algorithmically curated feeds that simulate a close relationship between the audience and the content creator. Ethical and regulatory concerns are central to debates about intimorire, with critics warning of erosion of autonomy and consent, while some proponents argue for more relevant communication and user experience.

See also: intimidation, persuasive technology, microtargeting, social engineering.