Discussion Group – May/June 2025

Half of the membership met on May 21st to discuss Fake News again, in the light of current affairs. The definition is not very clear, but it appears that such news has always pursued a nefarious purpose, driven by greed, propaganda, or insufficient research and that it is amplified in echo-chambers of like-minded people, who then propagate it outwards. The danger such news poses is amplified in the modern era by social platforms and AI.

We discussed strategies of discerning the truth, a more and more arduous task in our world. We provided examples of fake news spread by authoritarian states who want to hide or distort their real intentions, or to project a false image about themselves. POTUS was also frequently mentioned. There were also comments on the current political situation and the rapidly changing environment.

Our next meeting is planned for June 17th, a Tuesday. We would like to include more members, and according to our Beacon platform, 3 people are on the waiting list to join this group.

Dana Dima, Convenor

Please note that the views expressed by the Discussion Group may not represent those of the wider Dawlish & District u3a membership.