The internet has clearly permeated our everyday lives, but how is it rewiring our brains? We live in an age where flashy headlines lure us with outrageous claims, and where even the most ignorant comments and blog posts can sway public opinion. The filmmakers behind the gripping new documentary, “Gullible Democracy: The Internet Paradox,” examine how the Internet has the power to penetrate our cognitive biases.
One of the luxuries of democracy is the ability to admit doubt. But when due diligence and sound science don’t quell the skepticism, outlandish and often damaging conspiracy theories can take hold. Few people bother to confirm information they find online from reliable sources.
This movie provides several examples of this conundrum. It can be as gentle as spotting an animal shape in a cloud, or as wondrous as asking about going to the moon. From the filmmaker’s perspective, the determination of the anti-vaccination and 9/11 truth population represents the more destructive end of the spectrum. The Internet’s promise of open access to the world of knowledge, which many believe can only advance the cause of democracy. The reality is very different, as the proliferation of misinformation in cyberspace has dramatically undermined these democratic foundations.
The film poses a series of fundamental questions related to internet use and our inherent cognitive frailties. Where do our biases come from? Is being gullible in our DNA? Why do so many internet users take the path of least resistance when blindly accepting headline clickbait? Along the way, the film’s interviewees examine the development of critical thinking, why the human brain interprets consequences as conspiracy, the success of smaller, fringe groups in recruiting new followers, and the consequences once allowed to spread globally. The difficulty of combating lies on the Internet.
Clearly, the scourge of misinformation is the plague of our modern society, especially when it comes to our political conversations and public health concerns. Gullible Democracy: The Internet Paradox takes a nuanced, science-based approach to these troubling trends.
Directed by: Jean Bergeron
