Yuval Noah Harari, a renowned historian, posits that ‘fake news’ has been a part of human society for thousands of years. He suggests that the ability to create and believe in fictions, such as religions, nations, and money, has been crucial to human success, forming the basis for large-scale human cooperation. Harari asserts that ‘fake news’ is not a new phenomenon but a long-standing aspect of our species. He points out that the real issue is not the existence of fake news, but the speed and extent of its dissemination in the digital age.
Harari also discusses the concept of ‘post-truth’, arguing that it is misleading, as humans have always lived in a ‘post-truth’ world, shaped more by power and beliefs than by objective realities. He further contends that this ‘post-truth’ world is not necessarily bad, as it has enabled humans to build complex societies and achieve remarkable feats.
He concludes by warning that in the future, the biggest danger may not be the lies we believe but the truths we ignore. The real challenge, he says, will be to distinguish what is fiction from what is reality, in a world where the two are increasingly intertwined.
Go to source article: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/aug/05/yuval-noah-harari-extract-fake-news-sapiens-homo-deus