01 jul The digital age’s democratic crisis

We are living through a watershed moment in democracy’s history. Young people, particularly those who have grown up glued to screens, are increasingly skeptical of democratic values. It is not just a coincidence; this shift is deeply tied to how we use (and misuse) technology, and how the far-right has gotten incredibly savvy at manipulating social media.

Social media feeds are constant streams of information bombardment. Some content spreads through honest mistakes, like when people share questionable health advice they genuinely believe. But there is also calculated content: deliberately crafted lies designed to push buttons and shape opinions. Both forms are toxic to democracy, but in different ways.

Extremist groups have mastered the digital landscape through sophisticated psychological manipulation. They target individuals experiencing uncertainty and anxiety about their future by providing oversimplified solutions, offering a sense of belonging, and identifying scapegoats. Social media algorithms amplify this effect, creating echo chambers where radical ideologies become normalized through repeated exposure.

Teenagers and young adults are particularly vulnerable in this landscape. Growing up with smartphones is reshaping how their brains work. These young people are swimming in a sea of information without a compass, often unable to tell fact from fiction. The constant stream of quick-reward content from social media makes it hard to focus on anything longer than a one-minute video — perfect conditions for extremist recruiting.

With the threat literally in their children’s pockets, parents face significant challenges in protecting them in this digital age. Setting screen time limits is no longer sufficient. Meanwhile, teachers face their own struggles as they attempt to instill critical thinking skills while combating the constant influx of viral misinformation.

A complete digital detox is not the answer. What we need instead is a more sophisticated approach to technology use. By developing advanced critical thinking skills, people can better evaluate online content and engage in meaningful discussions while avoiding harmful ideological echo chambers.

AI can help flag obvious fake news, and content moderators can try to keep the worst content off platforms. However, technology alone cannot address these fundamental challenges to democracy.

Real solutions are needed: teaching digital literacy in schools, social media companies coming clean about their algorithms, support for quality journalism, and countries working together to fight digital threats. This is not just one country’s problem: it is a global challenge.

Democracy needs an upgrade for the digital age. We need to learn how to navigate this new world without losing our democratic compass.

But this is not just about writing new laws or building better spam filters. It is about all of us —parents, educators, tech companies, governments— working together to build a digital world that strengthens democracy instead of undermining it. The tools we use are not going away; we just need to get better at using them, and pass this knowledge onto the next generation.

The future is not written yet. With the right approach, we can help create a digital landscape that makes democracy stronger, not weaker. But we need to act now, before the erosion of democratic values becomes irreversible.

Suggested reading

• “As a child psychiatrist, I see what smartphones are doing to kids’ mental health – and it’s terrifying”
• “¿Los jóvenes ya no temen una dictadura? Claves del declive de la confianza en la democracia en las nuevas generaciones”
• “Misinformation v disinformation: What’s the difference?”
• “Rightwing populists will keep winning until we grasp this truth about human nature”
• “The sinister psychology at the heart of populism”