Post - Truth

This is a Sunday reading blog task, assigned by Barad Sir. For more information click here. In this blog, I shall present my understanding of the concept of Post Truth. 

What is Post-Truth? 

Relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief. (Oxford Dictionary)

Post-Truth is when people believe things based on their feelings rather than facts. In a post-truth world, emotions and personal opinions often matter more than objective information and evidence. This makes it challenging to have honest and rational discussions because facts are sometimes ignored or manipulated to fit a particular narrative or agenda.

The concept and history of Post-truth is very well explained in a video by “Then & Now”. You can check that out here - 

Word of the Year 2016 

“Post-truth” was chosen as the word of the year 2016 by Oxford Dictionaries. This word captured the political trend at the time. During that year, there was an increase in the use of the term due to the rise of political movements and campaigns that seemed to prioritise emotions and personal beliefs over facts and evidence. A very Famous example of it would be the Brexit vote in the UK. 

The word “Post-truth” was chosen to reflect the growing concern about the manipulation of information. It highlighted the challenges society was facing in distinguishing between factual information and emotional or biased narratives in the age of internet and social media. 

Philosopher and Author Professor A. C. Grayling described in one video by Sky News, why it’s the word of the year. You can check out that video here - 

 

The influence of Social Media 

One of the major reasons for the spread of Post-truth is increased dependency on social media. Social media platforms are a ground for rapid spreading of information, both accurate and misleading. A single tweet, post or video can go viral within minutes, reaching millions of viewers. This makes it challenging to control misinformation. The algorithms that govern our social media feeds often prioritise content that evokes strong emotional responses. This can contribute to the spread of sensationalised or false information. 

The sheer volume of information on social media can be overwhelming. Users may not have time or inclination to critically evaluate every piece of content they encounter. This can lead to a reliance on social media, which can be dangerous in times of fake news. A very recent example of this is Manipur crisis. Because of a piece of false information, that appealed to people’s aggressive emotions, many innocent lives were destroyed. 

How to be safe in Post-truth world?

There are a few things that we could do to avoid false information and be aware of facts. Some of them are:- 

Media literacy - 

Developing media literacy skills is crucial. Educating ourselves and others on how to critically evaluate sources of information, fact-check claims, and recognise potential bias can help us make more informed decisions.

Diverse perspectives - 

Everyone should actively seek out diverse perspectives and opinions. Engaging with people who hold different views can provide a more well-rounded understanding of complex issues.

Emotional awareness - 

We should be aware of our emotions and try to recognise how they influence our decisions. Just by being in control of our emotions, we can make more rational decisions. 

Fact-checking - 

Fact-checking organisations and tools are valuable resources for verifying information. Taking a moment to fact-check before accepting or sharing information can help curb the spread of misinformation.

In conclusion, the concept of Post-truth reflects a world where emotions and personal beliefs can overshadow facts and evidence. While navigating this landscape can be challenging, developing media, literacy, and critical thinking are sensual steps towards a more informed and balanced society.

In Jaipur Literature Festival 2017, there was a very interesting debate on whether we live in Post-truth era. You can check it out here -