Fight for the truth: The digital world in the chaos of opinions

Fight for the truth: The digital world in the chaos of opinions

In today's digital world, there are always critical voices about the development of the Internet and the dissemination of information, which often raise more questions than they provide answers. The Italian writer and philosopher Umberto Eco spoke early on about the dangers of such a society when he warned of the “invasion of idiots” on the Internet. He noted that in a world where all voices are equal, the quality of information suffers greatly. This is particularly evident in Thailand's political landscape, where the truth is often distorted through ideological prisms, leading to a real culture war.

Eco, who is considered one of the most important thinkers of his time, is best known for his novelThe name of the rosebecame known. In this historical crime work he combined semiotics, biblical analysis and medieval studies, thereby creating a new literary genre. His thoughts on the dangers of misinformation on social media are as timely as they are alarming.

Dangers of digital communication

Eco's words are echoed in the warnings of Hannah Arendt and Neil Postman, who have also addressed the dangers of the political destruction of truth. Especially in democracies, but also in dictatorships, the line between fact and fiction often becomes blurred. Postman also warned about the flood of information that turns people into passive consumers, thereby reducing the quality of communication. In Thailand, this is particularly noticeable when the population is trapped in ideological bubbles in which only information that corresponds to their own beliefs is accepted.

Social media has undoubtedly made political discussion easier to access. But the spread of misinformation and emotional manipulation has increased significantly in recent years. Political communication has changed - while political achievements were previously the focus, image and online presence have now become central. It's no wonder that influencers and content creators often have more influence on public opinion than academics and experts.

The dilemma of information overload

Eco’s observations about “truth fatigue” in society are alarming. Many people lose interest in searching for truth because they are overwhelmed by contradictory information. In this context, the tension between state control of information and the public demand for freedom of expression is becoming increasingly clear. The challenge is to find a balance between freedom and responsibility to promote high-quality public discussion.

This topic is also important at a time when digital communication is growing rapidly and presents both opportunities and risks. Eco, who covered a variety of topics in his works and teaching until his death in 2016, remains an important thinker in our current engagement with the digital world.

Speaking of clashes, the sports world also has a lot to offer, especially the 2025 tennis season, which began in January with the United Cup in Australia. The ATP tour will host 65 tournaments throughout the year, while the WTA has planned 53 tournaments. Players compete for ranking points and prize money in a varied tournament calendar that takes place on all continents. The next highlights of the Grand Slam tournaments are imminent, including the French Open, which are believed to be from May 25th to June 8th.

Overall, it shows that the challenges we face have a similar core, both in the digital world and in our personal environment: the search for truth and quality in a time of overinformation. Whether it is digital communication or sport, society is required to adapt to constant change and to question it critically.