ABSTRACT
Political motivations are thus accelerating the post-truth era. Much of what is considered post-truth politics is thus explained by the post-modern cultural ethos, but it is also related to known features of politics and political propaganda that have been amplified by technology, in particular social media. There are important political precedents behind the post-truth era: lies, rumours, deceits, and manipulation tactics have been used to shape public opinion throughout history. The use of online media to spread fake information as a deliberate strategy to gain advantage in political conflicts or to reinforce beliefs and polarise opinions is closely related to post-truth politics. While politicians produce strategically advantageous interpretations of reality, citizens’ perceptions are also shaped by their choice of medium and political preferences. Technologies used to distort reality are evolving at a fast pace and substantially faster than the capacity to understand and control their effects on politics and society.
