The screen, the podium, and the illusion of truth
When the medium influences what we believe to be true
We live in an era where we are exposed to a vast amount of information every day. But how much of our judgment truly depends on the content, and how much on the way it is presented to us? In this article, I reflect on a phenomenon as current as it is insidious: the tendency to attribute credibility to information simply because it comes from a screen, a stage, an authoritative media outlet, or a particularly visible voice.
“In a world where technology offers us access to infinite information, the real challenge is not knowing more, but learning to distinguish what appears to be true from what truly is.”
Through examples ranging from newspapers and television to social networks and algorithms, I analyze the relationship between authority, perception, and personal responsibility, introducing the concept of lucid pragmatism, a central theme of my book Oltre Te Stesso.