Let me take you back to 2016, when “fake news” transitioned from an obscure journalistic term to a household phrase. During that U.S. presidential election year, misinformation spread on social media platforms like wildfire. Stories like “Pope Endorses Trump” garnered millions of shares, outperforming legitimate news. A friend of mine, a thoughtful high school teacher, admitted to me over coffee that he’d been duped by one such article. “I wanted it to be true,” he confessed, echoing a dangerous sentiment: the merging of wishful thinking with unverified claims.
This isn’t just an American problem. In Myanmar, Facebook became the unwitting host of a hate campaign against the Rohingya Muslim minority, fuelling violence and genocide. In my own reporting on the intersection of technology and society, I’ve seen first-hand how misinformation can erode trust, exacerbate divisions, and even incite bloodshed.
Why We’re So Vulnerable to Misinformation
Psychologists tell us that our brains are wired for cognitive shortcuts. We gravitate toward information that confirms our biases and reject facts that challenge them. Social media algorithms, designed to maximise engagement, exploit this tendency. They feed us more of what we like—whether that’s puppy videos or conspiracy theories—creating a distorted reality tailored to our preferences.
Consider this: a study by MIT found that falsehoods spread six times faster than the truth on Twitter. Why? Because lies are often more sensational, more emotionally charged, and more clickable. The same algorithms that can guide you to a life-changing TED Talk can also ensnare you in a web of deception.
It’s no surprise, then, that the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) 2025 Global Risks Report ranked misinformation and disinformation as the number one short-term global risk and the fifth most severe long-term threat. These rankings reflect the systemic destabilisation misinformation can cause, from undermining trust in institutions to stoking societal polarisation. The IMF’s warning is clear: misinformation isn’t just an individual challenge; it’s a global crisis demanding urgent collective action.
The Spiritual Dimension of Knowledge
Yet, not all knowledge is created equal. There’s the mundane—facts, figures, and headlines—and then there’s the profound: the wisdom that reshapes your soul. In the words of the Sufi poet Rumi, “Don’t be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.” True understanding transcends the information we consume; it requires introspection and a willingness to grapple with uncomfortable truths.
This is where the greatest danger lies. Fake news doesn’t just mislead—it erodes our ability to engage in the deeper, spiritual pursuit of truth. When we can no longer distinguish fact from fiction, we risk losing our capacity for critical thinking, empathy, and self-realization.
Counterarguments and the Case for Optimism
Critics might argue that the internet is still the greatest educational tool ever invented. They’re not wrong. From free online courses to open-access journals, we have more knowledge at our fingertips than any generation before us. But access alone isn’t enough. Without digital literacy—the ability to critically evaluate sources, question narratives, and seek nuance—information becomes a liability rather than an asset.
Others might point out that misinformation isn’t new. After all, yellow journalism thrived long before the internet. While that’s true, the scale and speed of today’s misinformation epidemic are unprecedented. Social media amplifies lies to a global audience in seconds, making it far more insidious.
Solutions: Fighting Fire with Fire
So, how do we combat this epidemic? First, social media platforms must take greater responsibility. It’s not enough to label posts as “disputed” or tweak algorithms; they must prioritise truth over profit. Governments, too, have a role to play, enacting regulations to hold tech giants accountable without infringing on free speech.
Education is our most potent weapon. Just as we teach children to read and write, we must teach them to navigate the digital landscape. Finland offers a model: its schools have integrated media literacy into the curriculum, equipping students to spot fake news.
Finally, we must each take personal responsibility for the knowledge we consume and share. Before you hit “retweet,” pause. Ask yourself: Is this true? Who benefits if I believe it? What’s the evidence?
Conclusion: The Power of Informed Citizenship
In the battle for truth, knowledge remains our greatest weapon—but only if we wield it wisely. We must strive not only for information but for understanding, not only for clicks but for clarity. This is not just a fight for facts; it’s a fight for the soul of our democracies, the health of our societies, and the integrity of our shared humanity.
As I left that conversation with my teacher friend years ago, I couldn’t help but think of the old adage: “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” Today, we need to ensure that the truth not only laces up but also runs faster.
Because when the right information reaches the right minds, it doesn’t just change lives—it changes the world.
The allure of learning is undeniable. A single revelation can transform the mundane into the profound, a simple fact can upend our world-view, and a new insight can shine light on truths we didn’t even know we sought. As a journalist and lifelong student of humanity’s relationship with knowledge, I have marvelled at the extraordinary power of information to change lives. But in our hyperconnected world, where everyone is a broadcaster and algorithms are the new gatekeepers, the same force that enlightens can also endanger.
Knowledge, as Francis Bacon famously declared, is power. Yet in the age of social media, power is a commodity bought and sold with clicks, likes, and shares. The democratisation of information—once celebrated as the great equaliser—has become a double-edged sword. With the proliferation of fake news, propaganda, and digital echo chambers, knowledge itself is under siege, and the consequences for our democracies and individual freedoms are dire.
The Promise and Peril of Digital Knowledge
Let me take you back to 2016, when “fake news” transitioned from an obscure journalistic term to a household phrase. During that U.S. presidential election year, misinformation spread on social media platforms like wildfire. Stories like “Pope Endorses Trump” garnered millions of shares, outperforming legitimate news. A friend of mine, a thoughtful high school teacher, admitted to me over coffee that he’d been duped by one such article. “I wanted it to be true,” he confessed, echoing a dangerous sentiment: the merging of wishful thinking with unverified claims.
This isn’t just an American problem. In Myanmar, Facebook became the unwitting host of a hate campaign against the Rohingya Muslim minority, fuelling violence and genocide. In my own reporting on the intersection of technology and society, I’ve seen first-hand how misinformation can erode trust, exacerbate divisions, and even incite bloodshed.
Why We’re So Vulnerable to Misinformation
Psychologists tell us that our brains are wired for cognitive shortcuts. We gravitate toward information that confirms our biases and reject facts that challenge them. Social media algorithms, designed to maximise engagement, exploit this tendency. They feed us more of what we like—whether that’s puppy videos or conspiracy theories—creating a distorted reality tailored to our preferences.
Consider this: a study by MIT found that falsehoods spread six times faster than the truth on Twitter. Why? Because lies are often more sensational, more emotionally charged, and more clickable. The same algorithms that can guide you to a life-changing TED Talk can also ensnare you in a web of deception.
It’s no surprise, then, that the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) 2025 Global Risks Report ranked misinformation and disinformation as the number one short-term global risk and the fifth most severe long-term threat. These rankings reflect the systemic destabilisation misinformation can cause, from undermining trust in institutions to stoking societal polarisation. The IMF’s warning is clear: misinformation isn’t just an individual challenge; it’s a global crisis demanding urgent collective action.
The Spiritual Dimension of Knowledge
Yet, not all knowledge is created equal. There’s the mundane—facts, figures, and headlines—and then there’s the profound: the wisdom that reshapes your soul. In the words of the Sufi poet Rumi, “Don’t be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.” True understanding transcends the information we consume; it requires introspection and a willingness to grapple with uncomfortable truths.
This is where the greatest danger lies. Fake news doesn’t just mislead—it erodes our ability to engage in the deeper, spiritual pursuit of truth. When we can no longer distinguish fact from fiction, we risk losing our capacity for critical thinking, empathy, and self-realization.
Counterarguments and the Case for Optimism
Critics might argue that the internet is still the greatest educational tool ever invented. They’re not wrong. From free online courses to open-access journals, we have more knowledge at our fingertips than any generation before us. But access alone isn’t enough. Without digital literacy—the ability to critically evaluate sources, question narratives, and seek nuance—information becomes a liability rather than an asset.
Others might point out that misinformation isn’t new. After all, yellow journalism thrived long before the internet. While that’s true, the scale and speed of today’s misinformation epidemic are unprecedented. Social media amplifies lies to a global audience in seconds, making it far more insidious.
Solutions: Fighting Fire with Fire
So, how do we combat this epidemic? First, social media platforms must take greater responsibility. It’s not enough to label posts as “disputed” or tweak algorithms; they must prioritise truth over profit. Governments, too, have a role to play, enacting regulations to hold tech giants accountable without infringing on free speech.
Education is our most potent weapon. Just as we teach children to read and write, we must teach them to navigate the digital landscape. Finland offers a model: its schools have integrated media literacy into the curriculum, equipping students to spot fake news.
Finally, we must each take personal responsibility for the knowledge we consume and share. Before you hit “retweet,” pause. Ask yourself: Is this true? Who benefits if I believe it? What’s the evidence?
Conclusion: The Power of Informed Citizenship
In the battle for truth, knowledge remains our greatest weapon—but only if we wield it wisely. We must strive not only for information but for understanding, not only for clicks but for clarity. This is not just a fight for facts; it’s a fight for the soul of our democracies, the health of our societies, and the integrity of our shared humanity.
As I left that conversation with my teacher friend years ago, I couldn’t help but think of the old adage: “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” Today, we need to ensure that the truth not only laces up but also runs faster.
Because when the right information reaches the right minds, it doesn’t just change lives—it changes the world.
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