America has a problem with the truth. When asked, most Americans say they value the truth. If this is true, then why do so many have such a hard time discerning what\u2019s true from what\u2019s false with their media consumption? And who is to blame when misinformed citizens turn their misguided ire into violent acts against the government and fellow Americans?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our nation is in the middle of a truth crisis. Last year, through a tense election, coronavirus restrictions, and a national reckoning over racial inequity, we witnessed many friends, family members, and associates fall prey to misinformation. Interwoven between posts about everyday life, current events, and funny memes, we noticed a steady drip of intentional falsehoods slip into the media ecosystem. We were shocked to see more than a few smart, patriotic Americans engaging with and re-posting information straight from the QAnon script of misinformation and disinformation \u2014 and believing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the election, misinformation and disinformation spreaders accelerated their efforts, incubated the Stop the Steal movement<\/a>, and openly coordinated a direct attack on our democracy on Jan. 6. In the aftermath, we now know that nearly 15 percent<\/a> of those arrested had military service backgrounds (compared with approximately 7 percent of the U.S. population). While this statistic shocked many Americans, the problem of misinformation and disinformation is larger than the Jan. 6 riot.<\/p>\n\n\n\t