Truth Has Changed in the Digital Age

Project D: Group work.

Notes taken during the presentation with Tonia Samsonova and Valera Taran.

Truth is a social concept. A lot of experts agree on something being as the truth, and it becomes truth. It's a philosophical concept.

However, Covid showed it's also a physical concept. Based on what information we believed, it controlled the spread.

Truth is also a dialogue. It's what a community chose to believe.

There is also your own truth, and others won't agree on it.

There is truth vs information. Journalism is information of high quality. Method of comparison to check validity. Don't overcomplicate it. Journalism is a service. It's not supposed to make you happy, but make you prepared.

Truth exists. We might not always see it, but there is a truth.

Religion, Art, Science, and Language. - Ways of showing truth.

Bubbles

Think of algorithms as bubbles. How social media create these bubbles to keep certain information limited. This actually controls realities of people. What we see online is what we take as truth that is happening. Therefore, it is inevitable that how different parts of the world sees different matters in different lights.

Those in these bubbles are not ready to hear the other side. There has to be a push to go over to other side and at least entertain the idea of a different reality.

Is my research a bubble? How do I step out of it?

Generation difference: more and more older generation is coming online. Problem is not the mindset - it's the lack of knowledge on technology. How do I give them the resources for this change to happen?

Smaller communities spread by word of mouth, and then they Google it.

When my 70+ mother took WhatsApp forwards as her 'truth', I introduced her to Watchdog and she made sure she factchecked from then onwards. It can change if we give the right tools.

It is also painful when your hero becomes a villain. If you believe one truth, then you have to believe all the others. Then rethink your friend bubble. It's a lot of work.

Fact checking in the digital world is slightly difficult as it needs quite a fast turnaround time. With live streams, the background information is needed instantly.

Definition of words. Do they change according to the bubble? I need to define the words I use in my blog as how I see them. This will be added to the past blogs as well.

All news become boring with a 'big explosion'. Should there be some lighthearted news amidst the negative news to keep perspective? How much of dehumanising do bad news do to people? When the news is bad, holding on to their comforting 'truths' within their bubbles safer? How do you insert that change to stubborn mindsets?

The Sri Lankan protest, still ongoing, is fueled by memes. Is this what is keeping the violence out of it?

If I'm attempting to do something that has been done before - under the umbrella of closing the generation gap - then there has to be a better way storytelling that would take people out of their bubbles into each others'.

WOULD THIS BE A NEW LANGUAGE?

A new societal language. There's a gap because no one knows what each other is trying to say. They don't get the context. How do you address different things?

People who are raised with the Internet and those who are not?

People are always trying to convince why they're right. The more violent something is, the more you try to justify it. There is no 'respect' to the other side. How do I create that respect?

Misinformation is cheaper and quicker.

Truth starts at an algorithm and ends up in a World War.