Introduction
The concept of post-truth is a very hot-button issue these days due to its wider and far-reaching implications and ramifications. All of us know that we are living in an age in which clandestine agencies with technological clout are exploiting classified data and social media is manipulating, polarizing, and entrenching opinion. Due to this, a climate has arisen where trust and belief have evaporated, conspiracy theories thrive, doublespeak, doubletalk and gaslighting is used to bamboozle people, the authority of the real media has wilted away, emotions and bogus opinions matter more than facts, and facts, once the cornerstone of public discourse, are increasingly dismissed in favor of narratives that thrive on erroneous standpoints, fake emotions, foolish sensationalism, and noble lies or alternative truths.
‘We have entered a new phase of political and intellectual combat, in which democratic orthodoxies and institutions are being shaken to their foundations by a wave of ugly populism. Rationality is threatened by emotion, diversity by nativism, liberty by a drift towards autocracy. More than ever, the practice of politics is perceived as a zero-sum-game, rather than a contest between ideas. Science is treated with suspicion and, sometimes, open contempt,’ writes, Mathew D’Ancona in his book, ‘Post-Truth: The New War on Truth and How to fight back.’
Defining Post-Truth
In this fast changing and materialistic era, political parties, various denominations and some people deliberately fabricate controversies for economic or political advantage or to disorient and confuse the public. All this is the result of what the Serbian-American playwright Steve Tesich calls post-truth. He is credited to have coined this term in his 1992 essay published in ‘The Nation’. The word post-truth was declared by Oxford Dictionary as an international word of the year, 2016. Since then “post-truth” has become a ubiquitous buzzword, but what exactly post-truth means?
In easy parlance, the post-truth era signifies a shift in focus from objective facts to emotions and personal beliefs when evaluating information. Oxford Dictionary defines post-truth as “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” In other words, post-truth era refers to a time when objective facts hold less weight in public discourse compared to emotions and personal beliefs. People are more likely to accept information that aligns with their existing views, even if it’s overtly false and bogus but we must remember Yuval Noah Harari who says that in a world deluged by irrelevant information, clarity is power.
Factors Responsible For Post-Truth
The phenomenon called post-truth has germinated by varied and numerous factors. Some of the factors are explained as under:
- The Rise of Social Media: The influx of social media has given a thriving flip to post-truth. Social media platforms, as we know, often prioritize sensational content and create echo chambers where users are exposed only to information that confirms their existing beliefs.
- The Decline of Trust in Traditional Institutions: Many people view established media outlets and governments with skepticism, making them more susceptible to fringe sources.
- The Weaponization of Misinformation: Misinformation and “fake news” are deliberately created and disseminated to sow discord and manipulate public opinion.
- Rumour Mill: There is a certain section of people who are there to spread rumours about anything and they plant and narrate the rumours in such a way that they are taken as truthful statements and thereby take the form of ultimate truth.
- Rise of Hyper-reality: The ultra-modern technology has given birth to hyper-real world. In hyperreal world the boundary between real and hyperreal has blurred. Beneath the veneer of the reality of everything lies an unreal or what in modern terminology is called ‘deep fake image.’
- The Recent Launch of AI: The recent onslaught of Artificial Intelligence has given a futher flip to post-truth era.
- Mingling and Hybridization of Cultures: Globalization has sounded a final death knell to purity and homogeneity of cultures. It has petrified the sanctity and sacredness of every culture. Due to this, cultural identity has been lost which has thereby given rise to culture of psychological and societal crisis. And consequently it has given birth to the generation of people who feed and satisfy themselves with post-truth philosophy and politics.
- Postmodernism: Postmodernism, as we know, has blurred the boundary between real and unreal. It has given rise to simulation and simulacrum. Simulacrum has been defined by Baurillard as authentic fake. So, we can say, postmodernism has also been one of the factors responsible for post-truth world.
Steps To Navigate the Troubled Waters of Post-Truth
The consequences of the post-truth era are far-reaching and debilitating. It erodes trust in institutions, hinders informed decision-making, and deepens societal divisions. So, how to navigate this complex and critical era; where it is difficult to tell between fake and factual, to differentiate between real and reel and to sift out truth from untruth?
Here are few measures that we need to follow in order to get going:
- Media Literacy: In order to survive in post-truth era it is important for an individual to develop critical thinking skills. Learn to identify reliable sources, fact-check information, and be wary of emotionally charged language.
- Support Quality Journalism: Seek out credible news outlets that prioritize investigative reporting and fact-checking.
- Engage in Open Dialogue: Engage in respectful conversations with people who hold differing viewpoints and right perspectives. Always ask, interrogate, and contest. Besides, always ask a good, smart and relevant question.
- Be Inquisitive and Skeptical: A healthy and hefty dose of skepticism and inquisitiveness is always good. Keeping this in mind, we must ask: Why this or that is being presented and projected this way or that way?
- Do not be Lead By Your Emotions: Be aware of how you’re being persuaded. Is it through facts or playing on your emotions? Be meticulous and analytical in everything. For, being acutely analytical will save you from gullibility.
- Evidence Matters: Look for evidence to support claims. Don’t be swayed by anecdotes or personal opinions.
Conclusion
The post-truth era presents a significantly daunting challenge for all of us, but the challenge is not impregnable. By developing media literacy, supporting quality journalism, by being skeptical, being emotionally strong and fostering open dialogue, we can work towards a more informed and truth-based society and emerge victorious in sifting out truth from untruth and to tell real from the reel. Thereby hangs a tale!
Postscript
“We now live in an age where doctors destroy health, lawyers destroy justice, universities destroy knowledge, the press destroys information, religion destroys morals, and our banks destroy the economy”… Chris Heghes
(Author is a Lecturer. He did M.Phil and Ph.D in English from Aligarh Muslim University. Besides, he has qualified UGC-NET and JKSET for Assistant Professorship. He can be mailed at: [email protected])
