I am Sejad Chokiya, and this blog is written as part of the Sunday Reading Activity assigned by the Head of our Department, Prof. Dr . D. P. Barad. For this task, we were provided with two insightful blog posts authored by Dr . Dilip Barad as reference material: Post-Truth: Word of the Year 2016 and Beware of Histofluencers. These articles form the foundation of my understanding and reflection on the concept of post-truth and its influence in the digital age.
• Origin of The Word 'Post - Truth'
The word post-truth was actually used for the first time way back in 1992 by a writer named Steve Tesich. He wrote about how people were starting to ignore the truth and instead believe whatever suited them emotionally. This was in the context of events like the Gulf War and some political issues in the United States. Tesich felt that people were no longer interested in what was true ,they were more comfortable believing what they wanted to believe, even if it wasn’t based on facts. That’s where the idea of a “post-truth” world began.
But the word became really popular in 2016, when Oxford Dictionaries selected it as the Word of the Year. That year, the world saw two major events , the Brexit vote in the UK and the US presidential election ,where people were clearly influenced more by emotions and social media campaigns than by actual facts. Oxford defined post-truth as a situation where feelings and personal beliefs become more powerful than facts in shaping public opinion. From that point on, the term started being used more in media, education, and even day-to-day conversations.
• Definition of the word
The official and widely accepted definition of post-truth was given by Oxford Dictionaries in 2016, when they declared it the Word of the Year. According to them, post-truth refers to circumstances “in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” This means that people are more likely to believe something that feels right to them emotionally, even if it goes against logic or evidence.
Oxford chose this word because of how it reflected the political and social mood of that time. In 2016, two major global events , the Brexit referendum in the UK and the US presidential election ,showed how emotional campaigning, fake news, and social media had more impact on voters than facts or expert opinions. The term post-truth captured this shift in how truth was being treated in public discussions , not as something fixed and important, but as something people could ignore if it didn’t suit their feelings or beliefs.
To understand the idea more clearly, here are some images and cartoons that show what post-truth really means.
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| This cartoon hints at how political pressure can influence decisions more than truth or conscience ,a key feature of post-truth politics. |
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| This image shows how difficult it is to fight fake news and misinformation in the digital age. |
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| This image shows how religion, politics, and media mix to create emotional narratives that often ignore facts ,a strong example of post-truth in India. |
• Major reason that it was the word of the year in 2016
The main reason why post-truth was chosen as the Word of the Year in 2016 was because of the way public opinion was influenced during two big political events , the Brexit referendum in the UK and the US presidential election. In both cases, it was observed that emotions and personal beliefs played a bigger role than facts or expert advice. Campaigns were full of emotionally charged speeches, misleading claims, and viral content on social media, which made people believe things that were not always true. The Oxford team noticed a sharp increase in the use of the word post-truth during this period, and felt it perfectly captured the mood of that time , where truth was no longer at the centre of political and public discussions.
• How Post truth affect peoples opinion.
In a post-truth world, people often form opinions based more on emotions than facts. This shift has made it easier for rumours, half-truths, and emotionally charged messages to influence public thinking. In India, we see this happening regularly, especially during sensitive times like elections, communal tensions, or national crises. Instead of looking for verified information, many people rely on viral WhatsApp forwards, social media posts, or influencers who often share content that supports their own views , whether true or not. When people repeatedly hear the same emotional narrative, they start believing it, even if there is no factual basis.
One major example was during the 2019 general elections, when many fake videos and edited speeches were shared online to create confusion or manipulate voters. Another case was the COVID-19 pandemic, where false claims about medicines, vaccines, and even religious blame-games spread widely through WhatsApp and Facebook. These messages created panic, mistrust, and even hatred among people. Similarly, during the CAA-NRC protests, a lot of misinformation was circulated to either support or oppose the movement, making it difficult for people to understand the real issues. In all these cases, post-truth narratives shaped opinions more than verified news or expert analysis, showing how dangerous emotional manipulation can be in a digital society.
• Role of Digital Platforms (WhatsApp, Social Media, Influencers) in Spreading Post-Truth Narratives
This section will explain why and how platforms like WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and even influencers help spread emotionally charged but misleading content. You can mention:
∆ The speed at which misinformation travels.
∆ How algorithms show people what they want to see (echo chambers).
∆ How influencers and viral content create trust even without truth.
∆ Some examples from Indian digital culture , like WhatsApp forwards during elections, or Instagram reels that oversimplify complex issues.
One of the biggest reasons behind the rise of post-truth thinking is the way digital platforms, like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and now even Telegram, function in our everyday lives. These platforms have made it extremely easy to share information instantly with a large number of people. But they also make it easier for misinformation, rumours, and emotionally charged content to spread faster than verified news. Most people don’t stop to check the truth behind a message or a reel before forwarding or sharing it , especially when it agrees with their personal beliefs or fears.
Unlike traditional media, social media doesn’t follow any standard rules of fact-checking or editorial control. Anyone can create and share content, even if it is completely false or manipulated. For example, a WhatsApp forward with communal claims, or a short video clip taken out of context, can go viral within hours, reaching thousands of people, especially in regional languages. Platforms often show us content similar to what we have already liked or searched, creating what is known as an echo chamber. In such a space, we only see content that confirms our views, and anything that challenges our opinion seems wrong or fake, even if it’s true.
A recent example is the 2023 Manipur violence, where videos were circulated showing brutal scenes and communal targeting. Many of these videos were either old or edited, but they were shared widely on Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram to provoke emotional responses and deepen hatred. Another case was the Chandrayaan-3 moon mission, where along with genuine pride, some fake scientific claims and superstitious beliefs were also circulated online, mixing fact with emotion. Similarly, during the farmers' protest (2020–2021), several photos and clips were wrongly labelled , either to paint the protestors as violent or to show the government in a bad light. People believed and shared these posts not because they were verified, but because they emotionally supported a certain viewpoint.
Influencers and content creators also play a major role in this post-truth culture. Many of them gain huge popularity by creating reels or vlogs with confident opinions, bold titles, and emotional appeal ,but without doing proper research. Audiences often trust these influencers more than news channels, especially when they speak in a relatable or entertaining way. This creates a dangerous mix of entertainment and misinformation, where the line between truth and opinion becomes blurred.
Overall, digital platforms have become a powerful tool in shaping people’s minds, but not always in the right way. They reward what gets views and engagement, not what is truthful or balanced. In the post-truth era, feelings spread faster than facts, and these platforms are perfectly designed to take advantage of that.
• My Personal Encounters with Post-Truth
Being a regular user of social media and a student of literature, I often find myself surrounded by information , not all of which is trustworthy. One thing I’ve noticed is that opinions are shaped more by trends and emotions than facts, especially during sensitive topics involving religion, politics, or celebrity culture. As a Muslim student, I’ve observed how political narratives around our community are often manipulated online to create fear or divide people. For example, during election seasons or after any national incident, social media is flooded with claims blaming minorities, especially Muslims, without evidence. A simple WhatsApp forward or a tweet, sometimes without a source, suddenly becomes “truth” in people’s minds. Sadly, such messages don’t just stay online , they can affect real interactions. I still remember an incident when, after some provocative speeches by politicians and fake claims about ‘Muslim threats’ circulating on local WhatsApp groups, a few of my fellow students began behaving differently with me. There were uncomfortable remarks and attempts to isolate me , not because they knew the facts, but because they were reacting to what they had seen online. That experience made me realise how dangerous unchecked misinformation can be, especially when it targets someone’s identity.
One such experience I remember was during the Nuh violence in Haryana (2023). There were many videos and messages circulated across WhatsApp, Facebook, and news channels claiming Muslims had planned large-scale attacks , but later, fact-checks revealed that many of the viral clips were either old, taken out of context, or fake altogether. Yet, people had already made up their minds based on what they first saw. Similarly, debates around issues like hijab bans, love jihad, or the Bulldozer politics have often been presented in a way that targets Muslim identity, especially by certain news channels. I’ve noticed how news anchors on some popular media platforms , like Republic TV or Sudarshan News , present information with strong bias and dramatic language, often without giving space to real discussion. The headlines themselves are enough to influence public mood.
Even in Bollywood, I saw how post-truth shaped public opinion during the Sushant Singh Rajput case. After his death, there was an emotional storm on social media. While people had genuine concerns, many conspiracy theories were pushed without facts , blaming certain celebrities, calling it murder, or even connecting it to religion and politics. The media turned the case into a spectacle. Channels ran continuous debates without solid evidence, and people began to hate actors purely based on rumours. Many educated people around me believed these stories, not because they had proof, but because they “felt true.”
All these examples made me realise that in the post-truth era, facts are often ignored if they don’t match emotions. Now, I try to be more mindful. I’ve stopped blindly believing viral messages, no matter how confidently they’re shared. Instead, I take a moment to reflect, research, and check platforms like Alt News or The Quint’s WebQoof before forming an opinion. I’ve learned that being educated isn’t just about reading books ,it’s also about learning to think critically, especially in a time when emotions can easily replace truth.
• Conclusion
In today’s digital world, where we are surrounded by information every second, it has become very important to think carefully before believing or sharing anything. The post-truth era shows us that facts can easily be ignored when emotions and personal beliefs take over. As students, we must stay aware of how social media, news platforms, and even influencers can shape our opinions in the wrong way. By thinking critically and staying alert, we can protect ourselves from false information and help others do the same. Only with media literacy and an open mind can we hope to understand the truth in a time when truth is often hidden behind loud opinions.
If you're still curious about post-truth, these videos helped me understand it better ,and they might help you too!
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Work Sited ;
1.https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2017/01/post-truth-word-of-year-2016.html.
2.https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2023/11/beware-of-histofluencers.html.
3.Vox. (2017). The rise of post-truth politics [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QeJ9IMeCwY
If you found this blog helpful or thought-provoking, feel free to share it with others and drop your thoughts in the comments below , I’d love to hear your perspective!
— Sejad Chokiya , MA English, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar
