"De domheid regeert" by Sander Schimmelpenninck offers a laser-sharp analysis of the deliberate use of oversimplification, scapegoating, whataboutism, and other 'dumbing-down' strategies to influence the masses and undermine trust in public institutions and the media.

Schimmelpenninck warns against the dangerous consequences of our social media addiction, combined with a lack of media literacy and the presence of bad actors, which is evident in the recent growth of radicalized political movements and the normalization of racism, misogyny, and violence in many countries today.

I wholeheartedly agree with the author that a naive attitude, expecting these problems to resolve themselves or believing that we should only listen more to each other, underestimates the danger of recent developments.

You can't negotiate with those who attack the fundamental values of our democratic order. These attacks must be clearly denounced, and much more attention should be given to cultivating media literacy in schools and for generations that grew up before the rise of social media.

It's becoming increasingly important to stand up for and protect the fundamental rights and values of our democracies, especially since history provides so many examples of what happens if we don't.