OP-ED: The pandemic of ignorance

"Information has migrated to social media platforms where virtually anyone can become a source of 'knowledge.'"

Source: Adobe Stock

Author: Dotan Rousso

We are living through one of the most dramatic transformations in the history of information. For most of the modern era, the primary sources of public knowledge were relatively centralized institutions such as mainstream media, universities, professional experts, and established publications. These institutions were far from flawless and often carried ideological biases, yet they operated within frameworks that demanded some level of verification, professional standards, and accountability.

Today that structure has largely collapsed. Information has migrated to social media platforms where virtually anyone can become a source of “knowledge.” All that is required is a camera, a certain degree of charisma, and the ability to create or ride a trend. Expertise is optional. Verification is unnecessary. What matters most is the ability to capture attention.

Within this new ecosystem, knowledge, facts, and credibility are no longer the main currencies of influence. Instead, success is determined by the ability to deliver slogans, emotional narratives, and messages that confirm the audience’s existing biases. Content that simplifies reality into black and white categories spreads far more effectively than thoughtful analysis. Messages that provoke outrage, moral certainty, or hostility generate far more engagement than careful arguments that require patience and reflection. The result is an incentive system that rewards superficiality while punishing depth.

The more effectively an influencer can produce emotionally charged content, often from a basement studio, the more followers, likes, and financial rewards they receive.

At the same time, the habits of information consumption have changed dramatically. Many young people today have grown accustomed to absorbing information through short videos and images rather than sustained reading. Visual content is quick, stimulating, and emotionally powerful, but it rarely encourages deep analysis or careful reasoning. As attention spans shrink, the ability to focus on complex ideas or lengthy arguments weakens as well.

Into this already fragile ecosystem enters another powerful force: artificial intelligence. AI can now produce articles, images, and videos that appear almost indistinguishable from authentic content. The line between reality and fabrication becomes blurred, and the average user often lacks the tools or patience to distinguish between them.

The political consequences of this transformation are potentially severe. When large segments of the population become poorly informed, easily manipulated, and driven by emotional narratives rather than evidence, the likelihood of choosing unfit leaders increases dramatically. The effects are already visible in parts of the Western world, including Canada, where many young activists passionately support causes or regimes they barely understand.

The Iranian regime provides a telling example. On many campuses and across social media, Iran is often portrayed as a victim of Western oppression, while the basic facts about the regime’s brutality are ignored. Reports and estimates suggest that during waves of protest, tens of thousands of demonstrators have been arrested and subjected to torture or execution. The regime persecutes homosexuals, suppresses women’s freedoms, and openly declares its hostility toward Western democratic values. Yet these realities are frequently absent from the simplified narratives circulating online.

Western societies must begin to recognize the scale of this problem before its consequences become irreversible. The first step is acknowledging that the information environment itself has become dangerously distorted. Freedom of speech remains a foundational principle, but the operation of massive platforms that shape public opinion cannot be entirely divorced from responsibility. Equally important, educational systems must place far greater emphasis on critical thinking, teaching students how to evaluate sources, identify manipulation, and resist the seductive simplicity of viral narratives.

The future of democratic societies may depend on our ability to restore the value of knowledge in an age that increasingly rewards the illusion of it.

For comments: dotanrousso@yahoo.com