The Guardian view on digital media: the case for better regulation must be made | Editorial

Over the holidays, this column will explore next year's urgent issues. Today we look at the crisis in western democracy, Donald Trump's victory and the role played by digital media

In November 2020, shortly after DonaldTrump's defeatin the US presidential election, Barack Obama observed that America risked entering anepistemological crisis". The prospect of MrTrump's return to the White House in January validates his predecessor's premonition.

Mr Obama was talking about media fragmentation and polarisation: different segments of society existing in discrete information spaces; arguments no longer drawn from a common reservoir of facts; no shared reality, no foundation of truth. Then by definition themarketplace of ideas doesn't work," he said. Andby definition our democracy doesn't work."

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