Post-truth Research Articles

Susceptibility to scientific misinformation and perception of news source reliability in secondary school students

In the current post-truth era, the ability to assess the reliability of information is an essential citizenship attribute. With nearly half of the present internet traffic estimated to be generated by bots, and misinformation being regularly weaponised by numerous parties for economic or political gain, it is imperative that citizens are equipped with the tools to discriminate facts from fiction, particularly for health- and science-related matters. The present study reports the results of a survey (n = 776) carried out to evaluate susceptibility to scientific misinformation and perception of news source reliability amongst students in an English secondary school. Two distinct scores were developed in order to differentially measure susceptibility to disinformation (i.e. deliberately false information) and unintentional misinformation (i.e. getting the facts wrong). Non-parametric analysis indicated that students’ misinformation (as measured by both scores) decreased significantly over the course of the 5 years of secondary education. Interestingly, the adolescents who took part in the survey exhibited considerably lower belief in common science-based conspiracy theories than the levels previously reported among British adults. Students indicated teachers as their most frequent choice of scientific news. While social media were also indicated as common news sources, students expressed awareness of the unreliability of the content available on social media. Analysis of the open answers indicated that students considered BBC as the most trustworthy source of scientific information, and TikTok as the least trustworthy.

The Virus Gone Viral: The October 4th Conspiracy, “X”, and Post-Truth

On October 4th, 2023, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) conducted a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts, broadcasting a message to all consumer cell phones in the United States; This routine test became the catalyst for a baseless conspiracy theory involving 5G, wave frequencies, and zombies within the anti-vaccine community and gained significant traction online. In the context of a post-truth world, the proliferation of such dangerous misinformation warrants an examination of the role played by social media platforms, particularly "X" (formerly "Twitter"), in disseminating the October 4th Zombie conspiracy theory. This study explores how social media facilitates the dissemination and perpetuation of groundless theories devoid of objective truth within like-minded communities, and utilizes content analysis, discourse analysis, and an examination of user engagement with October 4th-related content on "X". What is found is that the rise of this conspiracy theory is largely attributed to the nature of the “X” algorithm: whether engaged with positively or negatively, engagement pushes content regardless of the nature of the post and therefore enables the widespread of the conspiracy theory across the platform to be viewed by millions. Thus, these findings bring forth the question of who is responsible for regulating informational versus misinformational discourse if we live in a post-truth era.

Journalism in the post-truth era

The break of the citizens' confidence in the information conveyed to them by the media is not a minor issue. In a regime of opinion and in a globalized society in which the issues that directly affect us are beyond our reach or understanding, the mediation work of journalists is essential. For this reason, the phenomenon of fake news in the so-called post-truth era is of paramount importance because it undermines the notion of truth, which is supposed to be the heart and raison d'être of the journalistic profession. The task of journalists is to provide public opinion with true or honestly truthful information that allows citizens to form a complete idea of what is happening and, based on this, make well-founded decisions on matters under public discussion. Without a minimum consensus on the facts, citizens are exposed to the effects of pure propaganda, their ability to decide is manipulated and the core of democracy damaged. The actions of tobacco companies to deny the lethality of tobacco, the denial of climate change, the orchestrated campaigns against the efficacy of vaccines or the unbridled dissemination of "alternative facts" in politics, have highlighted the fragility of the truth in the face of to the distorting power of unscrupulous media and irrepressible social networks.

Fragmented and Polarised? The German Public Sphere during the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

The digital age has brought about fundamental questions about the viability of the public sphere. While a shared and inclusive communicative space is widely considered to be a fundamental requirement for democratic deliberation, the rise of social (and other digital) media has prompted concerns about a potential fragmentation of the public sphere. Accompanied by the simultaneous decline of quality journalism, social media have facilitated the emergence of semi-public echo chambers of like-minded people. Against the backdrop of debates on post-truth politics, such echo chambers are important arenas for the dissemination of false information, but they also undermine the epistemic added value of deliberation by inhibiting discussion on competing truth claims. Based on the argument that post-truth politics is intimately connected to the fragmentation of the public sphere, this article analyses the extent to which the German public sphere has shown signs of polarisation and fragmentation in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. This is done by investigating to which extent to which debates in leading German media have managed to adequately represent all relevant perspectives on the Russian invasion, and conversely to which extent dissonant voices have been excluded from such debates.

What Is the EU’s Vision of Democracy in the Post-Truth Scenario? A Conceptual Analysis of the Institutional Narratives of the Public Sphere in the “Democracy Action Plan”

Contributing to recent academic and public debates on how European democracies should respond to a scenario of “post-truth politics”, this article explores the idea of democracy that underlies current regulatory responses in the “European Democracy Action Plan” (EDAP). It offers a conceptual analysis of the institutional narratives in the EDAP illustrating normative expectations of the public sphere and transformations of the basic concepts in the European polity. It revisits the famous Habermasian systemic view of deliberation emphasizing the interconnections of the social and institutional realms through the public sphere in democracies. We argue that previous scholarship has focused too much on the presumed loss of consensus originated from the digital transformations in the public sphere without taking into consideration other institutional changes within the EU. The analysis of the key concepts illustrates the normative expectations of specific measures and shows that there is evidence of a systemic view in the EDAP, with different modes of intervention, partially coherent with Habermas' normative expectations. We conclude that the vision of democracy in the EDAP has been developed for decades to legitimate the EU's development and initiatives, but that it also incorporates a reformulation of some concepts justified by a post-truth scenario.

SOREN KIERKEGAARD'S EXISTENTIALISM: A STUDY ON HOW TO ENJOY LIFE DURING THE POST-TRUTH ERA

This study aims to explain the means of deriving enjoyment in life during the post-Truth era by drawing upon the existentialist values of Soren Kierkegaard. A qualitative approach is adopted with a conceptual design, utilizing exploratory, interpretative, and analytical methods. The results showed that individuals were able to derive enjoyment from life during the Post-Truth Era by embracing the following Soren Kierkegaard's existentialism values: Firstly, being oneself; living under the narrative of the heart and mind. Secondly, being moral and adhering to universal rules. Thirdly, living a religious life, having a direct connection with God, and being critical of religion. Previous studies had extensively explored Soren Kierkegaard's existentialism, but none specifically examined its concept as a means of enjoying life.

Medical science in peril? analyzing the anti-vaccine rhetoric on greek facebook in the COVID-19 era

In the post truth era the limits between facts and beliefs, science and pseudo-science seem to be quite blurred. Social media platforms, such as Facebook, provide the ideal vehicle for the widespread sharing of misinformation, by fostering the creation of “filter Bubbles” and “echo chambers”. For the purposes of our study, we analyzed Facebook posts from users’ pages and public groups over a three – month period (from September 2021 to November 2021) with a primary focus on the vaccination against COVID-19. Using thematic content analysis, we attempted to explore the major themes that skeptics of COVID-19 vaccines use to justify their hesitancy. According to research findings, the anti-vaccination discourse on Facebook platform in Greece combines features such as mistrust towards politicians, the medical community, the legacy media, the establishment as a whole, and facts regarding the safety/complications of COVID-19 vaccination itself. If the medical society aspires to combat misinformation regarding health issues, then, deconstructing the anti-vaccination rhetoric will be a pivotal step for the ultimate survival of epistemological truths and scientific discourse in the public sphere.

The Relationship between Islamic Education and Global Ethics in Building Humanistic Awareness in the Post Truth Era

In a post-truth era marked by disinformation and mistrust of facts, it is important to consider the role of Islamic education and global ethics in building a humanistic awareness. Both have the potential to be drivers in overcoming the growing crisis of confidence and social polarization. This research explores the relationship between Islamic education and global ethics in the context of strengthening humanistic awareness. Through analysis of literature and case studies, the study highlights the importance of integrating humanist values, such as tolerance, justice, and empathy, into the curriculum of Islamic education. Moreover, a critical and reflective approach to disinformation as well as an emphasis on cross-cultural and religious understanding in a global ethical context are also identified as key factors in promoting humanistic awareness. The results of this research offer new insights into how global Islamic education and ethics can work together to produce individuals who are more aware of human values in the face of the challenges of the post-truth era. In conclusion, close collaboration between Islamic education and global ethics can help build a strong foundation of humanistic consciousness for a more inclusive and harmonious society in the future.

The OBR and the fragilities, complexities and promise of technocratic economic governance

AbstractThis contribution explores how technocratic economic governance rests on underlying principles of political economy—normatively informed judgements about how the economy and policy operate. It shines light on how fiscal councils such as the OBR can open up (or close down) policy possibilities through the way they narrate economic crises, the trajectory of the economy and the fiscal stance. Noting the epistemic limits of technocracy, it shows how fiscal forecasting is based on a presumed knowability and legibility of the economy and the fiscal stance looking years or decades ahead—a questionable and problematic presumption. It highlights increasing tensions between expert oversight and populist and ‘post truth’ politics within Britain’s economic governance regime since Brexit. The Office provides oversight, and a form of accountability for government policy, and is itself accountable to parliament. Nevertheless, many of its key and consequential assumptions are obscured from democratic debate and oversight. The Office, and UK economic governance, would benefit from more robust mechanisms of democratic engagement and deliberation. Under-developed democratic accountability is a source of crucial fragility for technocratic economic governance. The piece ends by exploring the scope of OBR fiscal assessment of climate change and its costs—underlining the ‘politics of economic method’ and how subterranean methodological techniques in putting OBR economic ideas into practice can be of first-order political and policy significance. They can shape policy possibilities for tackling climate change for decades to come.

Post-truth Era of Political Marketing: Manipulation Techniques and Their Impact on Public Opinion and Electoral Integrity in the USA

The study focused on the phenomenon of political marketing, political communication, and their application in world politics during the post-truth era with an emphasis on the territory of the United States of America. The aim of the study was to identify several aspects of these disciplines during the dynamic technological progress which makes it possible to develop misleading manipulative techniques and spread disinformation. The emerging issues of the current state of the online sphere such as abuse of personal data for one's own political gain, dissemination of false news that radicalizes the public and threats to the security of free and fair elections and a democracy relate to other concerns such as a polarized society and electoral integrity. Politics has always been, and will continue to be, an infinite number of shades of grey. Absolute honesty and elimination of negative advertising or propaganda is neither realistic nor desirable, though we consider it important to strive for more ethical election campaigns. The conclusion of this article can be applied to other studies that will continue the research on the given topic and will respond to the current challenges of democracy.

The Role of Higher Education in the Post-Truth Era

The rise in populism and movements that threaten trust in science and expertise has been labeled a post-truth world. What challenges does this environment present for higher education, and how should it respond? This article examines the characteristics of a post-truth world and how that challenges the fundamental purposes of higher education. It then examines how higher education might respond, what risks come with that response, and how effectively it might resist attempts to attack and undermine its different purposes. These movements undermine possibilities for truth or objective knowledge, presenting a clear threat to higher education. Its response focuses around improving research and communication with the public, but the nature of cognitive processes in a polarized world leads people to discount information that does not fit with their existing worldviews and values. Simply providing better research will not solve the problem, and actively engaging with these movements can make higher education seem more partisan, further reducing trust. In the face of such intractable problems, it is important for higher education to also nurture communities with its students that foster trust and “critical loyalty” to knowledge and truth over falsehoods and conspiracy.

An Analysis and Countermeasures of News Inversion in the Post-truth Era

In the digital age, the swift proliferation of the Internet and new media has led to the frequent occurrence of “news inversion”, significantly undermining societal trust and the credibility of mainstream media. Such news, often pivoting on social hot topics, garners extensive public attention and epitomizes the challenges of the “post-truth” era, where traditional journalistic ethics are under siege. This paper aims to dissect the roots and repercussions of news inversion and propose effective strategies to mitigate its widespread influence.

Review: Public History for a Post-Truth Era: Fighting Denial through Memory Movements, by Liz Ševčenko

Review: <i>Public History for a Post-Truth Era: Fighting Denial through Memory Movements</i>, by Liz Ševčenko

Maximizing the Use of Educational Media in Forming Anti-Bullying Values in School in Post-Truth Era

Post truth is a phenomenon in which a person's mindset is formed by various information that is often displayed in various media. This phenomenon marks the importance of media in forming beliefs, so that ultimately moves someone to act. This theoretical research aims to determine how media can be used to instill anti-bullying values in schools. This research is qualitative research with a literature review approach, where the data sources come from books and journals that are appropriate to the topic of discussion. The data and information obtained were then collected, coded and appropriate themes were searched for and then analyzed. The research results show that; Forms of bullying at school have occurred in several forms, namely: verbal, physical, social, cyber, sexual. So this needs to be addressed immediately by instilling anti-bullying values, which can be done using educational media. Maximizing the use of educational media is an effective way in the post truth era to instill anti-bullying values in schools. This is because, in this era, the form of information in the media has become a determinant and is able to shape a person's mindset to act.Post truth merupakan fenomena dimana pola pikir seseorang terbentuk dari berbagai informasi yang sering ditampilkan di berbagai media. Fenomena ini menandai pentingnya media dalam membentuk keyakinan, yang mana hal tersebut mampu menggerakkan seseorang untuk bertindak. Penelitian teoritik ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui penggunaan media bisa digunakan dalam menanamkan nilai-nilai anti bullying di sekolah. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan literatur review, dimana sumber datanya berasal dari buku dan jurnal yang sesuai dengan topik pembahasan. Data dan informasi yang diperoleh kemudian dikumpulkan, diberi kode dan dicari tema yang sesuai lalu dianalisis. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa; Bentuk-bentuk bullying di sekolah terjadi dalam beberapa bentuk yaitu: verbal, fisik, sosial, cyber, seksual. Sehingga hal ini perlu segera diatasi dengan penanaman nilai-nilai anti bullying yang dapat dilakukan melalui media pendidikan. Pemaksimalan penggunaan media pendidikan menjadi salah satu cara yang efektif di era post truth dalam menanamkan nilai-nilai anti bullying di sekolah. Hal ini dikarenakan, bahwa pada era ini segara bentuk informasi di media sudah menjadi penentu dan mampu membentuk pola pikir seseorang untuk bertindak.

From public deficits to public defects: How journalists embraced technocratic explanations for the Post-Truth Era

From public deficits to public defects: How journalists embraced technocratic explanations for the Post-Truth Era

Exploring the role of political elites in post-truth communication on social media

This study investigates post-truth messaging and participatory disinformation on Twitter, focusing on the activities of Craig Kelly, a former Australian member of parliament and a key figure previously accused of spreading health misinformation in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. We draw on Harsin's conceptualisation of post truth communication to analyse 4317 tweets and 5.2 million interactions with Kelly's account and his network of followers over a six-month period. Our novel empirical approach, combining coordination network analysis with a forensic qualitative approach, explores the participatory nature of online interaction, where fringe actors mobilise around Kelly's tweets. The findings demonstrate how political figures have a privileged and outsized role in public discourse, undermining scientific institutions and promoting anti-deliberative politics. This research underscores the role of participatory disinformation in the post-truth era and suggests that regulators, governments, and social media platforms work collaboratively to develop a whole-of-society framework to tackle misinformation.

Fake News in Brazil – Bolsonaro Case Study

It is well-known that former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro used social media to spread fake news with the assistance of his public official supporters also known as the “hatred cabinet”. This practice started during his campaign and continued throughout his government. This political strategy was guided by a selected group influenced by Olavo de Carvalho and inspired by his far-right thinking. This paper aims to analyze Bolsonaro’s political strategy of using social media to manipulate his followers by applying Carlo Ginzburg’s evidence method. The theoretical reference is based on Pierre Bourdieu, Jürgen Habermas from the vision of Mauro Wilton and Wilson Gomes, Zygmunt Bauman, Hanna Arendt, Yuval Harari, Pierre Lévy, Gilles Lipovetsky, Georges Balandier, among others. In the post-truth era, Bolsonaro and his supporters continue to disseminate fake news through a giant network in social media - such as Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook - about many different issues including politics, dictatorship, racism, homophobia, environment, COVID-19 treatment, and vaccines. Keywords: fake news, social media, public space, digital communication, post-modernity

Navigating the Intersection of Post-Truth and Sustainability in Journalism: Challenges Facing Sustainable Journalism in Northern Cyprus Media

This study explores the challenges facing sustainable journalism practices in the post-truth era through interviews conducted with journalists in Northern Cyprus. Based on the perspectives of professionals in the field, the aim is to understand current issues related to the feasibility of ethical and sustainable journalism. The study indicates that challenges specific to the media field, compounded by the post-truth effect, relegate sustainable journalism practices to the sidelines. In this context, essential measures for the enduring success of media organizations include strategies like diversifying revenue sources, embracing digital subscription models, investigating alternative business models, enforcing transparent editorial policies, and actively involving readers. The study also reveals the effects of financial difficulties such as low salaries, limited budgets, and financial constraints on the professional practices of journalists through interviews. Furthermore, through interviews, it elucidates how technological changes, the rise of digital media, and the rapid dissemination of news affect journalists’ information control processes and knowledge management strategies. Finally, while contributing to our understanding of how journalists in Northern Cyprus confront challenges in the post-truth era, this study presents the factors that may have a negative impact on sustainable journalism practices through an example and offers insights into common problems that may be encountered in this regard.

Trust in Media and journalism credibility in the sea of misinformation

Public trust is a crucial factor in numerous social activities, including journalism. For journalists and news organizations, credibility serves as a prerequisite that allows for competitive distinction, public recognition, and social authority within the information market. Despite this, in recent years, there has been growing concern regarding the declining confidence in the news media. This trend also extends to other sectors of contemporary life, such as governments and companies, resulting in a crisis of institutional trust. This pervasive distrust adds to an intense atmosphere of disinformation, further undermining the consensual notions of truth and reliability, which are essential to information systems. In this article, we address the challenges associated with measuring trust in media and journalism, shed light on additional difficulties stemming from the post-truth era, and present insights into an ongoing proposal for measuring credibility in the Global South.

‘Have you seen this?’: Constructing and controlling reality in The Assassination of Katie Hopkins (2018)

In 2018, against a backdrop of post-truth politics, celebrity culture and shock journalism, Chris Bush and Matt Winkworth premiered their fake verbatim musical, The Assassination of Katie Hopkins. This musical explored the ramifications of the fictionalized death of the notorious tabloid-topper Hopkins, while questioning the authenticity of the verbatim form. In doing so, the creators considered new possibilities for musical theatre. This article will explore Bush and Winkworth’s attempt to critique the cultural and political landscape, using the already ethically complex vehicle of verbatim theatre. It will consider the musical in relation to the political promiscuity of performance and slippage between the polarities of an ever-changing political spectrum. It will consider Jannerone’s concept of vanguard performance and explore the performative responses to the musical about Hopkins in the alt-right press. As we question dominant ideologies within musical theatre and embrace the sense of being, at all times, ‘post-something’, this article considers how writers can document this time of interregnum to reflect a world where ‘change is the only permanence, and uncertainty the only certainty’.