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The battle for democracy in the United States
The trouble with democracy in the US today, is not alternative views — as this is what makes a democracy strong — but alternative facts.
The basic premise of a democracy is the right of citizens to choose the government they want through a free and fair election. But for democracy to work as intended, citizens must make an informed decision on who to vote for. And this can only happen when voters decide on a set of common facts.
The proliferation of social media has enabled a post-truth democracy where facts no longer matter. Politicians now routinely engage in public discourse framed by appeals to emotions disconnected from the details of reality. They make repeated false assertions like the ‘Big Lie’ to which factual rebuttals are ignored. Supporters form echo chambers that not only reject facts that do not fit their narrative, but also eject those who dare share contradicting facts thereby ensuring the perpetuation of their alternative facts. The danger of fake news is well documented, and left left unchecked the Sleeper Effect turns falsehoods into truths.
Unfortunately, the ‘wild west’ nature of social media deters the well-intentioned from speaking up as they are often singled out and attacked by the rabid…
