The post-truth phenomenon is not merely a communication or media concern; it signifies a profound crisis.
The digital age we live in has exponentially increased humanity’s access to information in ways never seen before. We can witness an event happening anywhere in the world within seconds, right on our phone screens. Yet, this unprecedented access brings with it a profound contradiction: the abundance of information is clouding the truth. Social media, news websites, and video platforms now give different interpretations of the same event. Countless other digital channels also offer varied versions of “reality.”
One of the most striking global transformations of this century is this fracture in our understanding of reality. The question is no longer merely “What is truth?”—it has evolved into “Which truth is accepted?” and even more crucially, “How is truth produced?” The boundaries between information and opinion, fact and perception, data and emotion are becoming increasingly blurred.
Humanity is collectively confronting the rising tides of what social scientists define as the post-truth era. These tides are ushering in a world where information is abundant, but truth is scarce. The concept does not only refer to fake news. It also describes a mental climate where emotional, identity-based, and tribal reactions take precedence over evidence-based knowledge.
Truth as a Sociological Construct
The problem of truth is not merely about accessing precise information. Michel Foucault argues that every society constructs its own regime of truth. It is those in power who decide which knowledge is deemed legitimate. Friedrich Nietzsche, likewise, contended that truth is not an absolute concept, but one constructed through social structures and power relations.
In today’s digital societies, data monopolies, digital platforms, and algorithms have become the new centers of power. They shape the circulation of truth.
This is where sociologist Zygmunt Bauman’s concept of “liquid modernity” becomes relevant. The validity of information now varies depending on time, context, and the individual. The universal understanding of truth is being replaced by personalized realities. This is partly due to the flexibility offered by digital technologies. It also signals the erosion of a shared foundation for societal consensus.
Propaganda and Algorithmic Power
Propaganda is no longer a one-dimensional, simplistic tool of manipulation. In the digital age, propaganda works by multiplying facts rather than erasing them. It produces conflicting and contradictory narratives. These create an environment of uncertainty. Here, we must remember Hannah Arendt’s warning. She said, “In a world where truth has lost its value, people will eventually believe in nothing at all.”
Social media algorithms feed into this process. Platforms create echo chambers by serving users content that activates emotions like anger, fear, and belonging. In such an environment, people begin to reject any truth that lies outside their existing beliefs.
Meanwhile, AI-powered content production and deepfake technologies are manipulating the visual and auditory dimensions of truth in unprecedented ways. These technologies undermine our trust in what we see and hear. They radically transform our relationship with reality. We become trapped in an endless cycle of doubt. As a result, truth is no longer just difficult to find. It is becoming something whose very existence is hard to believe in.
From a Crisis of Reality to Ethical Responsibility
On a global scale, the post-truth phenomenon is not merely a problem of communication or media. It signals a deeper crisis. This crisis concerns the erosion of social bonds, public reason, and the foundations of collective life. Limiting reality to individual preferences threatens both trust and the willingness to coexist.
For instance, the Trump phenomenon rises precisely on this foundation. Seeing Trump as merely a sensational figure is incomplete. Viewing him solely as an erratic leader overlooks the massive transformation taking place behind the scenes. This transformation points toward a new world order in which truth is sacrificed to subjective beliefs and strategic power plays.
At this critical juncture, a broad field of ethical responsibility arises. It falls on all actors—from academia and the media to tech companies and the corporate world. The reconstruction of truth requires a collective and accountable effort.
Truth is essential for knowing what is right and real. It is also indispensable for building a sustainable and shared future for humanity.
This article was written by the author for the newspaper ‘Nasıl Bir Ekonomi’.