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Modern Politics: The Misinformation Age
Paying Attention to Social Media
It is no secret that we are living in an age that is dominated with misinformation. This is by no means a new phenomenon.
“We are the resource. We are worth more if we are addicted, distracted, outraged, narcissistic, attention-seeking, polarized, and misinformed, than when we are a thriving citizen or a healthy growing child.” — Tristan Harris
It goes without saying that it is better to be alive now than it was at any other period in time for most of us across the Globe, even if we live in poorer conditions. At one point the black plague wiped out more than 1/3 of Europe. And the Spanish flu killed millions in the 20th century.
Life is better. However, that is not to say that there are no areas to improve in.
Inequality is still rampant. Racism dominates politics across the Globe to a concerning extent. Ill-equipped populists occupy our governments. Add unto this, social media creates fertile ground for disinformation and outrage.
One writer who is raising the alarms is the McGill psychologist, Daniel Levitin. Levitin helpfully explains that…
