Post Truth and Vaccines
Truth. A pillar of democracy, community, and society. Up until the 21st century, the truth was simple, objective, indistibuable. Now, we are in a time of a great cultural shift where the nature of truth is being redefined. This transformation is driven by the way we consume media, the overwhelming volume of data available to the public, and the powerful influence of social media platforms. In our post modernist world, truth appears elusive and subjective, challenging our ability to understand pressing issues such as vaccines.
In the past, the limited news sources were the gatekeepers of information. Now, we find ourselves amidst a deluge of information that is readily accessible with a simple tap of our fingertips. The nature of the digital era has made people suspicious of things claiming to be fair or objective and people have increasingly become dependent on themselves to interpret information, whether it be photos, videos, statistics, stories, as they become dubious of others. People have a critical and skeptical attitude and are concerned about the truth bringing objective knowledge to almost impossible high standards. However, the institutions that would settle the facts are under fire for bias.
This phenomenon was acutely observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The internet became a vast arena where sources of information, including political parties, scientists, various media outlets, and individuals, offered their perspectives and interpretations on the vaccine. In the past, the acceptance of vaccines was driven by the trust and credibility placed in doctors and scientists who affirmed the safety and efficacy of vaccines and the majority of the population felt confident in following their guidance. This had been true for vaccination campaigns for polio, measles, and smallpox. However, when it came to taking the COVID vaccine, people lost trust in major government institutions and many did not even believe the pandemic to be real. The fragmentation of truth was exasperated by the sharp political polarization perpetuated by Trump.
Looking ahead, our society faces the pressing task of rebuilding this trust and reaffirming the importance of evidence-based decision-making. It is crucial to foster media literacy and critical thinking skills in the digital age while also recognizing the enduring value of authoritative sources. To tackle pressing issues like vaccine hesitancy and other societal challenges, we must collectively strive for a nuanced understanding of truth that acknowledges the complexities of our information landscape.
