Out of the mainstreaming of the Internet beyond the military in the 1980s came utopian visions of an enlightened public. This vision was underpinned by the assumption that people would be better informed because they would have more access to diverse views and be more equipped to make rational decisions on politics and policy.
Four decades on and the reality seems to be getting further and further away from this vision. Today, elections and political discourse are characterised by hate speech fanning tribalism, disinformation that chips away trust in public institutions, and incitement to violence, making political mudslinging mild by comparison.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Read the full story and more at $9.90/month
Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month
ST One Digital
$9.90/month
No contract
ST app access on 1 mobile device
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you