This Blog is in response to the thinking activity given by Dilip Barad sir at the Department of English, MKBU. 

The Post Truth Era: The Impact of Fake News on India

The term ‘post-truth’ was voted the word of the year in 2016 by Oxford Dictionaries. The year had left us with one certainty, that we would no longer be dealing with pre-information age but the post information age where facts and truth take a backseat. Post Truth refers to a state where statements made are devoid of any objective truth and are designed to solely appeal to emotions, rather than logical reasoning. In other words, they are half-truths or untruths which are packaged and propagated as truth. Up until recently, news was considered a business of conveying factual information. However, recent events have changed this belief and given birth to fake news sites which thrive on sensationalism and frequent publishing of false information for monetary gain.

Introduction to Fake News Sites

Fake news websites are usually created with the intent of generating traffic, clicks, and revenue through the advertisements on their portals. They are designed to mislead the readers to click and share the articles on social media, which they believe will cause a stir. These websites mainly operate from countries where there is no law against fake news and also have servers outside of India to avoid detection by law enforcement agencies. Fake news websites generally operate in three ways: They either republish articles from credible media organizations and twist their headlines to mislead the readers, or create their own articles with false information, or plagiarize other articles from credible news organizations and publish them as their own. These websites are designed to appeal to the emotions of the readers, often to generate revenue. These have become an increasingly common phenomenon, especially in competitive online spaces.

Importance of Journalism for a Tolerant Society

Journalism is an extension of democracy as it provides for transparency, an informed electorate, and a just and civil society. It has been called ‘the first rough draft of history’, and with the rise of the ‘post-truth’ era of fake news, this phrase is perhaps more relevant than ever. Journalists are the mediators between the government and the people. They bring forth the events and actions of the government to the public so that they are able to make informed decisions. Journalism provides a substantial and significant role in a democratic society. Most importantly, it is the responsibility of journalists to provide the public with the facts instead of propagating what might be seen as half-truths or untruths.

Why is India Vulnerable to Fake News?

Research has shown that India is one of the most vulnerable countries to fake news due to a combination of factors. Firstly, a large portion of the population is under- or uneducated, and many do not have access to proper information sources. Secondly, there is a high literacy gap among different linguistic groups, which makes them vulnerable to misinformation. Thirdly, although the media and internet are accessible to a large portion of the population, most people use them for entertainment rather than for a source of information, making them easy targets for fake news. The current state of the Indian media may also be a contributing factor. The majority of media houses in India are owned and managed by private commercial companies who are primarily driven by profit and revenue. This makes the need to be ‘sensational’ and ‘click-baiting’ more prevalent, which can result in publishing fake news.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the term ‘post-truth’ was voted the word of the year in 2016 by Oxford Dictionaries. The year had left us with one certainty, that we would no longer be dealing with pre-information age but the post information age where facts and truth take a backseat. Post Truth refers to a state where statements made are devoid of any objective truth and are designed to solely appeal to emotions, rather than logical reasoning. In other words, they are half-truths or untruths which are packaged and propagated as truth. Up until recently, news was considered a business of conveying factual information. However, recent events have changed this belief and given birth to fake news sites which thrive on sensationalism and frequent publishing of false information for monetary gain.