Igaz és hamis az új médiában

Abstract

True and False in New Media
New media has become a part of everyday life. This is particularly true of Facebook, which everyone tends to visit, even if they deny it. Significant academics and seemingly serious politicians are as present on social media as charlatans and rogues; organizations with an interest in causing confusion are also active, while organizations dedicated to obstructing confusion are not passive. It is also well known that one wrong Facebook post can cause an avalanche – whether consciously or accidentally. On the net – and to a degree on Facebook – all facts appear directly or referenced as in line with reality and thus true. At the same time, all positions that are false are also present. It is common knowledge that false, faked, misleading, or – let’s be honest – simply stupid statements are difficult to recognize, especially in the time of a pandemic. We face several entirely new phenomena which lack explanations based on scientific consensus. Social responses to the pandemic and the effects of political and bureaucratic efforts are controversial. Furthermore, even the best-intended actions – which in some cases are rational – cause interruptions in the usual carrying on of life, and factual pandemic news cause uncertainty. That is to say, true statements awaken the desire for “fake news”. Wittgenstein closed his famous logical-philosophical essay with the words “that whereof we cannot speak, thereof we must remain silent”. It is possible that the situation is now reversed. That whereof we must remain silent, thereof we must speak.