Selective information

Partial censorship

Nature

When the public does not receive all the information it needs to make informed decisions, some form of news blackout or censorship has taken place; censorship being defined as the selective suppression of information, whether purposeful or not, by any method – including bias, omission, or under-reporting – which prevents the public from fully knowing what is happening in its society. Much citizen alienation from public life and citizen apathy may be due to this selective information and to a lack of reliable and usable information on critical issues.

Claim

Selective information is a critical issue that undermines informed decision-making and fosters division in society. By cherry-picking facts to support specific narratives, individuals and organizations distort reality, manipulate public perception, and erode trust in institutions. This dangerous practice not only misleads the public but also stifles meaningful dialogue and understanding. We must prioritize transparency and critical thinking to combat selective information, ensuring that everyone has access to a complete and accurate picture of the world.

Counter-claim

Since "all" of the information needed to make informed decisions is far more than even experts can comprehend and use, some mechanism for selection, sorting and digestion of information is required. To suggest that this process is a form of censorship renders the term meaningless.