…might be one summary of the current phenomenon we know as “social media” these years. Before even going to the concept of misinformation (or rather, disinformation), we ought to be able to agree that social media is replete with falsehoods and outright lies.

How will you put the brakes on the wanton spread of harmful falsehoods online? If we value truth – or approaching the subject from a different angle – acknowledge that viral falsehoods has a potential to harm individuals, groups or even society as a whole, then we must also realize that we cannot slow the online (dys-)culture of lying, if lies told do not come at a cost; that is, if people are willfully able to tell lies with no inhibition, pause or remorse whatsoever.