Trust in Information: The End of Believing Our Own Eyes?

Trust in Information: The End of Believing Our Own Eyes?

Author: Gareth King January 3, 2026 Duration: 35:19
Ruined By The Internet? | Uncovering the human cost of our digital world
TechnologyScienceSociety & Culture

The internet promised a more informed society where anyone could share knowledge freely. But has it instead created a crisis of trust - where expertise is constantly challenged, and huge numbers of us struggle to discern fact from fiction?

We're joined by Terry Flew - Professor of Digital Communication & Culture and Co-Director of the Centre for AI, Trust & Governance at the University of Sydney - whose research sits at the exact intersection of media, technology, and why we've stopped believing what we read.

Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.

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In this episode we investigate the concept of mediated trust and how the internet broke it, examine the battle between social media and traditional journalism for credibility, explore how AI is accelerating the misinformation crisis, and ask whether critical thinking is enough to navigate a digital world specifically designed to exploit our trust.

00:00 - Introduction to mediated trust and the information crisis

01:26 - How media and misinformation have evolved together

01:37 - What mediated trust actually means and why it's breaking down

06:06 - The crisis of trust in institutions: is it terminal?

07:39 - How algorithms decide what we trust without us realising

09:28 - Trust in Australian media: a case study in collapse

14:10 - Journalists versus influencers: who's actually shaping what we believe?

17:57 - Defamation, power dynamics, and who gets to control the narrative

19:27 - How media trust and consumption patterns are shifting in real time

22:29 - The polarising impact of celebrity culture on information credibility

24:25 - AI's role in information processing: help or accelerant?

30:16 - Navigating human versus machine communication in a trust vacuum

33:09 - What restoring trust in information sources would actually require

Guest links – Terry Flew

University profile: https://www.sydney.edu.au/arts/about/our-people/academic-staff/terry-flew.html

Podcast: https://mediated-trust-arts.sydney.edu.au/programs/time-for-trust-podcast-series/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terryflew/


It’s a question that nags at anyone who’s ever felt a pang of nostalgia or a wave of digital fatigue: are we better or worse off because of our constant connection? Hosted by Gareth King, Ruined By The Internet? digs into that uneasy feeling, moving beyond simple headlines to explore how our online world actively moulds society, culture, and the texture of daily life. This isn’t about reviewing apps or gadgets; it’s about treating the digital realm as the pervasive environment it has become. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with leading thinkers and researchers from around the world, dissecting the real evidence behind our shared anxieties and hopes. You’ll hear nuanced discussions that ask whether the casualties we often blame on technology are inevitable, or if we’re simply misdiagnosing deeper societal shifts. This podcast provides a space for considered reflection, offering listeners a clearer lens through which to view their own place in a world that is, for better or worse, thoroughly wired.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 30

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Ruined By The Internet? | Uncovering the human cost of our digital world
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