Truth Decay: An Initial Exploration of the Diminishing Role of Facts and Analysis...

[iwakar]

Truth Decay: An Initial Exploration of the Diminishing Role of Facts and Analysis in American Public Life

Over the past two decades, national political and civil discourse in the United States has been characterized by "Truth Decay," defined as a set of four interrelated trends: an increasing disagreement about facts and analytical interpretations of facts and data; a blurring of the line between opinion and fact; an increase in the relative volume, and resulting influence, of opinion and personal experience over fact; and lowered trust in formerly respected sources of factual information. These trends have many causes, but this report focuses on four: characteristics of human cognitive processing, such as cognitive bias; changes in the information system, including social media and the 24-hour news cycle; competing demands on the education system that diminish time spent on media literacy and critical thinking; and polarization, both political and demographic. The most damaging consequences of Truth Decay include the erosion of civil discourse, political paralysis, alienation and disengagement of individuals from political and civic institutions, and uncertainty over national policy.

A worthwhile read. I'd love to see follow-up research on this. I've been debating pursuing my PhD and would really love to build outward from here.

Any thoughts on this emerging concept are welcome.