POST-TRUTH POLITICS IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA: HOW EMERGING NEWS SHARING PATTERNS ARE SHAPING POLITICAL AND MEDIA CYNICISM IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

This paper will explore the relationship between the emerging news reporting patterns on the social media and how it is shaping the political and media cynicism in Pakistan. The study will attempt to analyze the interconnected concepts of post-truth politics, mis/disinformation, political polarization, lack of gatekeeping with respect to how people share political news on social media networks. The research paper will try to examine the consequences of such negative news coverage on social media undermining the public’s trust both in the democratic processes and new media as a legitimate source of news consumption. Thematic analysis was conducted, and certain themes were extracted to answer the research questions so that underlying interpretations could be examined.