Anushka Das

As I began researching my first current affairs topic I was going to write about for this blog, I became quickly exhausted by the plethora of conflicting information I was finding, which ended up inspiring me to begin my blogs with this post instead. 

I wanted to find objective, accurate information on my topic, and I ended up going through far too many sources to get even a basic understanding about it. I ended up coming out more confused and frustrated to a point where I thought it’s better to just not write or express any opinions on it. The source of my frustration wasn’t the complexity of the issue, but in the difficulty of locating reliable information untainted by biassed perspectives. 

When I thought more about why I was so easily ready to give up writing on this topic, I realised part of it stemmed from fear. It was fear of writing something which I myself wasn’t sure would qualify as objective or unbiased since I myself was unsure how to fact check facts. I was apprehensive of the possibility of attracting divergent opinions who’d jump to brand me as biassed or inaccurate, maybe even accusing me of harbouring ulterior motives and pushing a particular agenda through my writing. 

This led me into a spiral of contemplation, prompting me to question whether the common man like myself ever truly has access to objective and authentic news sources, or if information has always been manipulated by a select few. In today’s age, with numerous articles, movies, and TV shows highlighting the susceptibility of media being controlled by governments and the affluent, we as a people are more aware of the potential manipulation we face as common citizens. Distinguishing between what constitutes propaganda and what doesn’t has become a common, perplexing challenge. I also begin to think whether it’s even worth finding any objectivity in events that happen, afterall as a Psychology major, I am aware that we often don’t perceive events as they are but rather through the lens of our own desires and motivations. Though this is a separate topic of its own.  

But this spiral of thoughts frequently occurs in my mind, whether I’m opening up the NYT app on my phone or reading another Instagram post shared on my friends’ stories, and I speculate that I am not alone in experiencing this. I am also aware of how exhausting and demoralising it can become.

I often wonder whether this problem always persisted, especially growing up. I reminisce about the moments from my childhood when I would sit with my grandpa in his living room. Every evening at 9 pm, he would switch on the TV, tuning in to Aaj Tak, an Indian news channel, for their concise coverage of the top 100 headlines in just 30 minutes. During my upbringing, this was what news used to be. My grandpa didn’t fuss about changing channels or searched on the internet to align the stories because he was untrusting of the media. Quick, brief, objective news, which would at the end of the day, leave you a bit more informed and satisfied that you learned something. 

Of course, I don’t claim there was no subjectivity involved. Even back then, we had panels featuring politicians, experts, and historians engaging in passionate debates and vehemently opposing each other. Every Indian kid growing up during my time was familiar with Arnab Goswami’s nightly debate show. Discussions among adults used to happen about whom to trust and who might have been bribed or influenced to speak for a particular side.

However, what I am unsure about is whether these discussions left people as fatigued and doubtful of the media as they do today. Today we face family members becoming divided over which channel to tune into on the TV or new challenges for the education system as students and teachers avoid engaging in conversations, sceptical of perspectives their educators may be influenced by. 

We don’t know who to trust.

This brought to mind a recent Christmas Eve dinner I shared with my friend’s family. During a political discussion, her accomplished lawyer aunt proudly shared her daily routine, starting with news from BBC and progressing through MSNBC, NPR, CNN, FOX, and eventually delving into various podcasts to gain multiple perspectives. I found her commitment to understanding diverse viewpoints truly commendable. To me, it reflected at least a conscious effort to avoid a narrow mindset. 

However, what I didn’t express to her was the acknowledgment of her privilege in doing so. While she undoubtedly worked hard to get to where she is, she enjoys the privilege of having the time in the morning to explore different sources, make informed decisions, and cultivate a worldview that isn’t overly constrained. 

It’s an admirable practice, but unfortunately, not a realistic option for everyone. Not everyone possesses the luxury of so much time to dedicate solely to acquiring news. 

Nonetheless, this isn’t to suggest that many lack the curiosity to stay informed about events in our country and the world, and that her aunt is an exception. 

I believe a substantial number of people harbour a genuine desire to not only possess information but make well-informed decisions for themselves, their families, communities, and nations based on it. Information that is purely knowledge, allowing them the decision to interpret it however they want.

However, the demands of various aspects of the lives of common people compel many to allocate only limited time to stay adequately informed. On top of that, the overwhelming abundance of information, coupled with concerns about dishonesty and bias inevitably contribute to fostering a sense of apathy in many.. 

Some may argue that it’s not apathy but rather a reluctance on our generation’s part to invest effort in delving deeper into a subject. After all, we are the generation with an attention span of only 15 seconds. 

While it’s true that there are individuals who may genuinely lack interest in wanting to explore, this subset of people has likely always existed and will continue to do so. 

For those of us who genuinely strive to know more and read more, it’s not a call for a reduction in the effort required to acquire information. Instead, it’s an acknowledgment that the threshold of effort to get reliable information seems significantly higher for our generation, to the extent that it becomes discouraging and prompts a desire to give up on the pursuit of learning about something.

And that to anyone who values the ideals of democracy and an informed citizenry should sound dangerous. 

I strongly believe that there’s a significant segment of the population, including the kids I’ve encountered and peers I’ve collaborated with in classes, who harbour a genuine eagerness to learn more about different topics and articulate their opinions. However, a prevalent issue among many of them, including me, is a lack of confidence.

This lack of confidence stems from the uncertainty of whom to trust. They are aware that if they form an opinion and express it, there’s a risk of being perceived as biassed, leading to getting even “cancelled”.  The unforgiving nature of cancel culture does a great job at adding an additional layer of apprehension. 

I find it gravely important to address this concern because it’s a fear I personally grapple with as a writer.

 I believe it’s something that we, as a society, need to collectively work on resolving – navigating the challenge posed by the abundance of information and the dissemination of misinformation. The consequential sense of apathy poses a great barrier to mobilising people towards causes that require greater awareness and active support in today’s day and age. Working collectively to counter this challenge and foster more civic engagement is important for addressing pressing local, national and global issues.