The thing that makes me very concerned is the lack of context in these discussions of fake news of the history and continuing use of government propaganda.
I hope young people who are familiar with "fake news" but not necessarily as familiar with the history of propaganda and censorship will study that history.
The big issue is there is enthusiasm for censorship, and the problem with censorship is who gets to decide what is real information and what is fake. The interests with the most power will have more control over information as censorship increases.
Because the same power that is supposedly only used to suppress propaganda from some other country is used to suppress internal dissent or criticism.
This is actually very dangerous for multiple reasons. One big reason is that propaganda (internal to the country, i.e. by the same people who will be deciding what is fake news) is usually critical in terms of jump-starting and maintaining enthusiasm for wars.
I hope young people who are familiar with "fake news" but not necessarily as familiar with the history of propaganda and censorship will study that history.
The big issue is there is enthusiasm for censorship, and the problem with censorship is who gets to decide what is real information and what is fake. The interests with the most power will have more control over information as censorship increases.
Because the same power that is supposedly only used to suppress propaganda from some other country is used to suppress internal dissent or criticism.
This is actually very dangerous for multiple reasons. One big reason is that propaganda (internal to the country, i.e. by the same people who will be deciding what is fake news) is usually critical in terms of jump-starting and maintaining enthusiasm for wars.