Postfactual

Postfactual is an adjective used to describe an environment in which objective facts and empirical evidence have limited influence on public opinion and political decision making, with appeals to emotion, identity, and narrative often driving attitudes and actions more than verifiable information.

The term emerged in late 2000s to 2010s in journalism and academic discourse alongside post-truth; it is not tied to a single originator but gained traction in discussions of contemporary media ecosystems, including the role of social media algorithms and fragmented news sources.

Characteristics include a preference for vivid storytelling, partisan framing, selective exposure, and distrust of expert or institutional authorities; rapid spread of misinformation or disinformation through online networks; and a tolerance or normalization of uncertainty around facts.

Implications include difficulties for journalism, policy-making, and public accountability; responses include media literacy efforts, transparent fact-checking, corrective information, and design of platforms to reduce amplification of falsehoods.

Postfactual is closely related to, and sometimes overlaps with, post-truth. Related terms include misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and fact-checking; criticisms of the concept include concerns about vagueness and normative bias.