The past decade has seen political polarisation – accelerated by social media’s filter bubbles and echo chambers – deepen and mutate. An ominous era of a polycrisis has shattered any remaining societal consensus. Meanwhile, powerful anti-establishment voices have stepped into the void.

Against a backdrop of uncertainty, people are searching for new sources of control and stability. Where science and ancient wisdom have been conventionally pitted against one another, many are moving towards an integrated approach to authority that draws from the best of both worlds.

A study has found that TikTok’s in-app editing tools enable users to generate fake and misleading content about the war in Ukraine. As the proliferation of war-related content clouds the online sphere, netizens are finding it increasingly difficult to tell fact from fiction.

In the US, the pandemic exacerbated social and political rifts – with polarized visions of the world becoming even more acute. With the aim of combating such divisions, The Human Library provides people with the chance to discuss contentious issues with others outside of their social network.

Why are people posting their low-lights on social media? Is it time for meme literacy lessons? And can Big Tech help prevent misinformation? In this part of the Expert Outlook 2022, we speak to three experts about how the search for control and connection is shaping the communications sector.

In an increasingly polarized political landscape, The Dispatch is looking to establish a new mold for conservative media coverage in the US – one that eschews hot takes and ‘us versus them’ narratives and instead places a strong emphasis on journalistic integrity and community involvement.