Rebalancing the Information Ecosystem and Renewing Shared Societal Commitments for Information Use

The authors of this paper outline a strategy for addressing the challenges faced by the U.S. information ecosystem and explore how this ecosystem relates to American democracy and society’s shared values. This paper uses prior research on Truth Decay to set the stage for a next phase of work focused on the management of and commitment to information use. Rather than merely assessing the state of the problem, which has been well established through prior RAND work and the work of others, the authors of this paper emphasize priorities for the next era of research and action, such as proactive measures and future initiatives that can help people manage a diverse information ecosystem, shore up civic infrastructure, and enhance cognitive security. Ultimately, these future efforts can strengthen democracy and improve civic engagement. The paper should be of use to a variety of government and civil society actors committed to helping individuals and community groups navigate and balance diverse sources of information.