Why did Donald Trump get elected as president again? Why do Russians believe in state propaganda? Why do people vote against their own interest in elections?
An answer to these questions is disinformation. Information online is unreliable, and the algorithm-driven media environment builds an emotive click machine that leaves no time for fact-checking and reflection.
No panacea exists
Delegations often visit Finland to hear about media education and combating disinformation. Finland has a reputation as a country that opposes Russian disinformation, and many others are interested in the Finnish silver bullet: how do you do it?
Delegations that wish for a panacea get often disappointed. Despite the fact that Finland has exemplary media education programs in educational institutions, high levels of trust in news, and very little actual fake news activity, no single measure is enough if the population is to be made, to use the buzzword, resilient.
First, we need a elementary school: a single learning path for all, run by reasonably paid, university-educated teachers. In many countries, the fight against disinformation already stumbles on this: teachers are a low-paid profession, education is segregated, and money rules. Moreover, media education should reach out to a very wide range of people and try to reach beyond bubble boundaries. The Covid era showed that this was not entirely successful in Finland either. When a crisis breaks out, the human mind needs clarity and certain truths. Science, especially in the midst of a pandemic, by its very nature, provides them more slowly than the various influencers. Understanding how science works, what constitutes reliable information and how to fact-check is important in the fight against disinformation.
The most important element in the fight against disinformation is trust. In Russia, people trust almost nothing: neither the media, social institutions – or even each other. In a cynical atmosphere, it is easy for the state to manipulate the people. By stirring up war, attention is diverted from the country’s internal problems. The US election result is also largely explained by polarisation. As income inequality grows and the future becomes increasingly uncertain, the grand statements of Donald Trump and his MAGA people appeal to people.
Professional media builds trust
Finnish society is also becoming polarised. Some of our political decision-makers believe that our so-called mainstream media that is committed to ethical self-regulation, is pushing an agenda.
Professional media have a major role to play in the fight against disinformation and misinformation. News must be trusted in difficult times. Finnish journalists and media houses are working hard to ensure the quality of journalism and transparency of processes. If we want a resilient society, political decision-makers should also recognize and acknowledge the importance of journalism in the fight against disinformation.
Board member of Vikes
Salla Nazarenko
