Abstract
This paper explores how independent media, particularly podcasts, replicate and reinforce the same structures they claim to oppose. The rise of anti-vaccine rhetoric and conspiracy theories is a key example of how these media spaces have promoted disinformation narratives widely adopted by what I call the skeptical population. This essay defines the skeptical population as a group that perceives itself as critically engaged and independent but is guided by disinformation and manipulation. This majority, disillusioned by traditional institutions, becomes highly susceptible to narratives that validate their skepticism while normalizing misleading ideas. Enrique Dussel’s critique of fetishized power explains how alternative media, rather than fostering genuine liberation, reinforces ideological domination. The skeptical population, believing itself to be engaged in resistance is caught within a system that exploits their dissent, redirecting their skepticism toward disinformation rather than structural critique. Figures like Joe Rogan who present themselves as independent thinkers provide platforms for misinformation under the guise of open discourse, failing to engage in fact-checking while amplifying deceptions. The monetization of conspiracy content whether through advertising, subscriptions, or algorithmic amplification further incentivizes the spread of these narratives. Rather than dismantling the hold of so called mainstream media, they are absorbed into the same system where financial incentives dictate content. In a sense, they manufacture a collective understanding of the world based not on fact but on disinformation, conspiracy, and resentment toward governmental institutions. This paper reveals how ignorance is not just a byproduct of disinformation but an actively cultivated industry.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Independent media, Agnothology, Misinformation, Disinformation, Media Skepticism, Skeptical Population
