In today’s information world, misinformation has become an ever-present problem, where falsehood, assumption, and cynical deception predominate over truth. The abundance of data does not translate into greater clarity; rather, information overload can consolidate half-truths and myths, creating a confusing and misleading picture. This phenomenon, which could be called “the era of dataphrenia,” manifests itself in the rapid spread of fake news and rumors, which spread at an alarming rate through social media. The mystique of immediacy and the comfort of accepting data without asking big questions have led to a situation where appearances and quantity are valued over depth and truth.
In this “age of dataphrenia,” we are witnessing a transition from a world of intensity to a lighter one, characterized by the absence of self-criticism and commitment. The bet is on a superficial and fragmented reality, where truths are always partial and short-lived. The focus is on the ephemeral present, where the ability to accumulate data becomes a criterion for establishing temporary realities, without the effort to interpret or question their validity. This trend reflects a growing disconnection with deep reflection and critical responsibility, essential to understanding the complexity of the modern world.
The speed with which these half-truths spread in the digital age is worrying, as a fake news story can take on a life of its own and snowball, regardless of the availability of verified information that could debunk it. Social media amplifies this situation by allowing misinformation to spread easily and be reinforced, often without an effective mechanism to rectify it. This perpetual cycle of misinformation puts the quality of public debate and trust in information sources at risk.
The media are a substantial factor in the production and replication of fake news, although it is these same media, curiously, that call themselves transmitters of the “truth” and information. We have already spoken on other occasions about the clickbaitan unethical technique that uses sensationalist or exaggerated headlines and information to get users to click on links, where they often find information that has nothing to do with what the hook offers. It is a technique that is increasingly used by the media, even those that, as print media, had a certain reputation for their seriousness in communication.
The information business has been transformed. Printed material, at least in periodical publications, is no longer the favourite and, in fact, it seems that it will soon die out. Today, the digital world is the world, and on the Internet, competition is fierce; advertisers pay for visits, which, unlike in the past, are perfectly quantifiable and allow the generation of statistics that shape the market and regulate prices. In addition, the media have to fight with the massive transmission of first-hand information thanks to social networks. A witness’s video is much more popular than that of a reporter who arrives at the event an hour later. Sources are accessible to everyone and networks allow content to go viral without the intervention of traditional media. The response of the media has been overwhelming: lowering their communication quality in search of sponsorship.
Links on social networks are sometimes so absurd that they force the user to click to find out a price, a place, a name or an isolated piece of information. There are those who return to the comments and give the answer to prevent the publication from continuing to benefit from the link. clickbaitIn this sense, there is a constant struggle between the common user and the great announcers of the past for the news scoop, and the truth is that the media are not winning, because their prestige and credibility are weakening day by day to such an extent that they promote more articles about shows than about issues of national interest.
Another factor that influences is the inclination that they have towards certain political positions or values. In the 20th century, when the newspaper was the king of information, it was easy to agree with the political inclinations of one medium or another. It was well known which was left-wing, which was right-wing, which was conservative or even religious, and which other was subversive. Knowing the inclinations was a key factor for the number of buyers or subscribers they sought; the reader generally chose the one that best fit their own position. It was an audience environment where the role of the communicator was hegemonic and the receivers were considered “masses.”
Today, the trend has changed. Although many are carried away by a sensational headline or a stance that matches their political ideas, new types of users have also emerged who are much more participative and active, and it is not just the youngest ones. Taking the floor on social networks is a true act of disruption, since it implies that the masses have become actors. But unfortunately, most actors still show little ability to differentiate quality content from that which is not, and now the real problem is the excess of information, most of it incomplete or biased, which has come to replace the narratives imposed by the great announcers of the past.
Today’s enunciative hegemony is rumor, speculation and fragmentary information. It is curious to see how there are still news from years ago, which were denied at the time, traveling among the voices of the replicators of the networks. The indignant, the worried, the alarmists would perhaps only have to open the link and read the full note or do a brief search on the Internet to realize that it is false information. But this action, so simple and so accessible to everyone, is far from common. The most urgent tool of our time is to learn to deal with information and overcome hedonism, to read carefully and think seriously before spreading information without support.
Spider web thread. With the increase in respiratory diseases, it is important to remember that self-medication is dangerous. The WHO insists on the accelerated increase in bacterial resistance worldwide due to the excessive use of antibiotics.