Post-Truth Society and the Social Media in The 21st Century

Abstract

Post-truth theory or media concept, which silently crept into the global media space in the recent past, is fast gaining prominence and  elevating itself to the forefront of media discourse. Many scholars and writers have even concluded that the society has slipped into post- truth condition because of the invasion of the media space by fake news and misinformation. It is believed that as the influence of post- truth becomes widespread across the media spectrum, those on its path, may be swept along without raising the necessary flags that  negate the assumed power and lifeline of the rising new media concept. Upon this therefore, this work used qualitative research method  to deploy media theories from books and journals to deconstruct the invincibility of post-truth. This is particularly so as there are classical  theories such as Uses and Gratification, Individual Differences and Social Categories typologies, which prove that individuals do  not consume media products the same way and are never affected the same way by any single media output as they are able to choose  and pay attention to media offerings that meet their needs and carefully reject those that do not meet their desires. The research  therefore, concludes that post-truth does not possess the pervasive power to disorient or obstruct media users from recognising and  using objective facts or truth in making critical decisions about their lives. Individuals are not lumped together in making critical media  decisions whenever and wherever the need arises no matter the strength and frequency of fake news that they encounter. It is therefore,  safe to state that post-truth is incapable of influencing media users to the extent that they jettison truth and objective facts  and embrace ‘alternative facts or lies in forming public opinion. For this reason, the research makes the point that the frenzy about post- truth society arising from the menace posed by fake news, is a misplaced apprehension given the fact that each media consumer  possesses a ‘thinking cap’ that enables them to decipher what is truthful and useful and what is false and undesirable.