OP: @[email protected]
Like many other parts of the world, the UK is in the firm grip of an epidemic of disinformation and misinformation
Where does it originate?
Misinformation and disinformation abound in the UK from many sources, each with its own motivation.
Foreign interference: Some foreign powers have been accused of using disinformation with a view to destabilising democracies; an example is the widely alleged Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum.
Conspiracy theorists: Various groups or individuals who advance anti-vaccine rhetoric, climate denial, and “alternative” histories have seized upon social media as a method for magnifying their messages.
Everyday users: The most insidious form of misinformation probably emanates from ordinary people who are unwittingly passing along unverified or misleading content. What perhaps originates as a misconstrued post spirals into general belief.
Media and politicians: High-profile individuals and, in some instances, even news outlets have at various times propagated false or misleading information sometimes deliberately and at other times through negligence, further harming the public trust.
There’s never been much money in telling the truth, but there’s always heaps of money to be made on bullshit. They used to call this world the vale of tears, but it’s really a dingle of porkies.