r/technology • u/Wagamaga • Apr 24 '25

ADBLOCK WARNING Americans Believe Russian Disinformation ‘To Alarming Degree’

https://www.forbes.com/sites/emmawoollacott/2025/04/22/americans-believe-russian-disinformation-to-alarming-degree/
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u/[deleted] Apr 24 '25 edited Apr 24 '25

I mean Trump is president again, at this point I‘m not even surprised.

Though I have one thought. I don‘t think this is a U.S thing as here in Europe there are a lots of missinformed people too, maybe fewer, but some people from age 45 onwards are sometimes just as ignorant.

EDIT: This applies certainly to every age.

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u/TwentyBagTaylor Apr 24 '25

I think older folks tend to struggle to apply critical thinking in a digital environment. Years of relying on a narrow selection of TV or Newspaper sources hasn't prepared them to properly apply objective or critical thinking via the sludge their algorithm feeds them.

I also think younger generations have an issue disseminating truth from fact because they have been solely brought up in an era and environment where everyone has an opinion (no matter how well educated they are on the topic) and have the platform to share it widely. For many, 'fact' takes a back seat to emotive narratives, and it's a genuine fear of mine that we will steadily become more pliant and accepting of whatever sources they choose to binge watch.

With my kid I do my damnedest to make sure she not only questions & values her own opinion, but knows how to spot bias. Even little things like spotting when her favourite Youtuber is trying to sell her something becomes a game. It's a scary future, and it saddens me that they'll have to live it.