As AI saturates, what is the premium on humanity? And what does “nouveau nihlism” mean for community engagement?
Data from Pew and Gallup highlights a deepening divide in how information is processed and where trust is placed.
The Trust Recession
Gallup reports that just 28% of Americans trust the mass media to report news fairly. This is a record low, with 34% expressing “none at all”. Trust in national news was recently at 56% according to Pew but drops to 51% for adults under 30—who now trust social media (50%) almost as much as national news outlets.
The Science of Persuasion
Yes, it is possible to change the opinion of someone with an opposing view.
Earlier this year, Northwestern University measured citizen-to-citizen persuasion is significantly more effective than expert messaging. About 1 in 3 attempts to change an opposing view succeeded, mostly when using personal narratives and “highlighting common ground”.
Moreover, there is a generational disconnect that Ipsos identifies globally as “Nouveau Nihilism,” where citizens are turning inward to personal autonomy as trust in systems of power hardens into disenchantment.