Misinformation may seem like an unstoppable bullet, but it only really works if there are a powerful few pushing it.
Donald Trump hoaxes trigger threats against Haitians in Springfield
A few hours after the presidential election in the United States, word began circulating on X, in YouTube or TikTok videos and in Substack newsletters, that there were millions of “missing” Democratic votes. It wasn’t true. The difference between the votes of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump then seemed greater because millions of votes had not yet been counted, notably in California and New York, very populous states where the Democratic Party has more support and particularly slow to count due to his periods. . local.
There are still votes to be counted and Harris is estimated to be a point and a half behind Trump at the end of the count. But the defeat gave rise to the idea that Elon Musk had manipulated voting machines via his Starlink satellite Internet access network, that votes had been canceled en masse and even that Harris was sending red flags with her speech of recognition of his defeat by saying only that. when it’s very dark, “can you see the stars”. Trump supporters took advantage of the initial gap to falsely repeat that there was cheating in the 81 million votes obtained by Joe Biden in 2020. The difference is that on the Democratic side, the voices that repeated the hoaxes were not party politicians and were not even politicians. activists with a significant number of supporters. On the Republican side, there was, among others, the former journalist and agitator Tucker Carlson. Then, Trump and his lieutenant Musk had already remained silent after a sustained campaign until Election Day over the alleged fraud. On November 5, when turnout seemed to be increasing in Philadelphia and Detroit, key cities for Democrats, Trump and Musk even made up that the police were on their way – who knew where – following accusations of fraud.
The spread of hoaxes without proof of irregularities continues to circulate in the corners of the Internet, but it only comes from denial articles in media like the New York Timespublic radio NPR and many others, because politicians and other social democratic leaders have not fallen into the tempting path of fantasies as consolation. It’s the difference between two very different parties in the United States and one that is leading the way in resisting hoaxes in public life.
Misinformation may seem like an unstoppable bullet, but it only really works if there are a powerful few to give it impetus. And, while we may seem like a drop in the ocean of lies, the media still has a role to play in stopping hoaxes, especially when they favor the parties or politicians our readers like most.
In an interview a few days ago, Bill Adair, the founder of PolitiFact, a network of fact check pioneer, created in 2007 by the newspaper St. Petersburg timetable of Florida, said his own brand has come under attack from Republicans in recent years despite his impeccable, nonpartisan work. Combating hoaxes among Trump supporters is very difficult given the leader’s direct involvement, but Adair believes that media outlets perceived to be closer to the president-elect have a unique opportunity to reach these people. Another thing is that they want to do it and the reach they have beyond television, the most notable and still minority news source.
The group of voters among whom Trump had the most success were people who follow little political information and who receive it primarily through family and friends rather than from any media outlet. But there are examples, however small, of media capable of breaking this bubble. For example, Tangle News, a newsletter written by a Pennsylvania journalist that aims to explain current events in the most neutral tone possible, reflects what the perceived Democratic and Republican voices are saying on an issue and provides its own opinion .
It’s harder when the frontman of your favorite band insists on lying, but we’ve never had more tools at our disposal to find out what’s true.
