The current epistemic crisis might affect our epistemic wellbeing. We are living through an epistemological crisis: it’s becoming harder and harder to know what to believe and who to listen to. Can we really know the truth? Are the “experts” trustworthy or tainted by ideological bias? Our growing distrust of those who claim to be telling the “truth” can leave us feeling powerless and confused amid the growing information glut of the digital age.

Our social networks are bombarded by information, and it is almost impossible to discern what is real and what is unreliable information. The problem is not so much because of false content, but because malicious actors try to use our psychology against us. Misleading, manipulated and false information regarding events in Ukraine has been circulating on social media platforms. Using existing photos or videos and claiming they come from a different time or place is one of the most common forms of misinformation. News organizations are calling out fake footage and compiling lists of dubious social media claims. How can we avoid being fooled by fake news?

The people who believe in misinformation are not interested in “staying suspicious”. They believe what they want to believe.