By Sundeep Sharma
In our era of rapid dissemination of information, the lines between fact and fiction have become increasingly blurred. Misinformation and disinformation have emerged as powerful forces that shape public opinion while posing serious threats to the very foundation of societies.
In his book Nexus; A Brief History of Information Networks from Stone Age to AI, historian and philosopher Yuval Noah Harari explores the profound impact that information has on modern civilizations. While Harari’s work covers a wide array of topics—from artificial intelligence to the future of humanity—his reflections on the dangers of misinformation and disinformation provide crucial insights into how these phenomena end up eroding the fabric and conscience of a nation.
Nexus opens by emphasising that information, once a tool for empowerment and social cohesion, is increasingly becoming a weapon of division and control. The digital revolution has drastically altered how information is produced, consumed, and shared. Social media platforms, 24-hour news cycles, and digital advertising have created an information ecosystem that is vast, instantaneous, and often hard to police.
Misinformation refers to the unintentional spread of false or inaccurate information, while disinformation is the deliberate creation and dissemination of false information with the intent to deceive. Both have become prevalent in contemporary society, with far-reaching consequences for social trust, political stability, and national identity.
In Nexus, Harari underscores the importance of truth in maintaining social cohesion. The foundation of any functional society rests on a shared understanding of reality. So when misinformation spreads, it undermines this trust. People begin to question what is real, and this erosion of the objective truth opens the door to division, confusion, and manipulation.
Consider the rise of fake news during recent political events, such as the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the Brexit referendum. In both cases, false or misleading information flooded social media platforms, influencing voters’ perceptions and decisions. This goes to explain how the spread of misinformation taps into people’s fears, prejudices, and emotions thereby creating echo chambers in which individuals are exposed to information that reinforces existing beliefs.
Harari suggests that when misinformation spreads, people no longer share a common understanding of events or issues. The affected society becomes fragmented, with different groups holding incompatible versions of reality. In such an environment, national cohesion is compromised, and the very fabric of the nation starts to disintegrate.
Patriotism, national pride, and a shared sense of purpose become difficult to cultivate when competing and false narratives divide citizens.
Whereas misinformation can sometimes result from misunderstanding or error, disinformation is deliberate. It is the calculated use of false information to deceive and manipulate public opinion. In Nexus, Harari explains that disinformation is increasingly being used by state and non-state actors to influence opinion and even destabilise governments. The Misfortune of our time is that widespread availability of sophisticated digital tools has made it easy to create and disseminate false information on a massive scale.
Harari, further, points to the rise of “post-truth” politics, where emotions, rather than facts, drive decision-making. Politicians and media outlets increasingly rely on disinformation to create a narrative that suits their agenda, often at the expense of truth. This state of affairs makes the public distrustful of both the media and the political system. It makes it easy for citizens to feel lied to or manipulated by those in power even when nothing of the sort is in the air.
Harari argues that disinformation corrodes the moral and ethical fabric of a society. When citizens are constantly exposed to lies and distortions, they become desensitized to the importance of truth. Over time, the distinction between right and wrong becomes blurred, and moral decadence that soils the conscience of a nation takes over.
In Nexus, Harari emphasizes that the antidote to the destructive effects of misinformation and disinformation is a renewed commitment to truth and responsibility. It is not enough for individuals and governments to passively consume information; they must actively engage with it, critically evaluate sources, and hold those who spread falsehoods accountable.
Governments need to invest in media literacy, encourage transparency in information sharing and create an environment where truth and facts are valued over sensationalism and lies.
Harari’s Nexus offers a compelling argument that misinformation and disinformation are threats to the very essence of modern civilization. When these forces go unchecked, they destroy the fabric of society, undermine national identity, and erode the moral conscience of a nation. If Kenyans are to protect the soul of their nation, they must rise to the challenge of discerning truth from falsehood and embrace greater responsibility in information sharing.
Sundeep Sharma is a student of world history by choice and well-respected financial analyst and systems integration specialist with years of experience in various jurisdictions mainly in Asia, parts of Europe and now Africa.
