When Truth Is Sold for Clicks – Media Lies and Our Shared Responsibility!

Aftonbladet exaggerates by turning a defense secretary’s generic statement into a dramatic narrative of military aggression. This is a clear example of fake news in headline form – emotionally charged, but disconnected from reality. AFTONBLADET

We live in an age where information spreads at the speed of light, and where every headline must compete for attention. In this landscape, journalism’s core mission – to convey the truth – has been pushed aside. What remains is a media environment where clicks often outweigh facts, where drama triumphs over nuance, and where lies increasingly disguise themselves as news. But this isn't just a threat to journalism as a profession – it’s a threat to the very foundation of our democratic society.

Lying in the media is not a new phenomenon. But today it moves faster, reaches further, and – perhaps most dangerously – is more socially accepted. When false headlines are no longer seen as exceptions but as part of the game, we've crossed a dangerous line.

The Headline as a Weapon

Take the recent example that made the rounds: “President Donald Trump wants to take over Danish Greenland. By force if necessary.” A made-up headline. Yet it illustrates how easily fiction can be dressed up as fact. Yes, Donald Trump did express interest in purchasing Greenland back in 2019. But to claim he threatened military invasion? That’s a complete fabrication – written to shock, provoke, and go viral.

And viral it goes. On social media, these types of headlines often garner the most shares, the most comments, the most fuel for angry debate. They don’t need to be true – just provocative.

Why Does the Media Lie?

Let’s be clear: not all media lies. There are many serious news outlets that still uphold ethics, source verification, and rigorous editorial standards. But they are forced to compete in a market where attention is currency, and truth isn’t always the most profitable product.

There are several reasons falsehoods spread:

• Economics: Clicks mean revenue. More views equal more ad money.

• Politics: Media is used as a tool for influence. Fake news becomes a weapon.

• Technology: Algorithms reward emotionally charged content – not truth.

Together, these factors create an ecosystem where lies flourish.

The Damage Is Real

Public lies have consequences. Trust in media plummets. Faith in institutions erodes. Polarization deepens. Democracy weakens. We begin to see each other not as fellow citizens with different perspectives, but as enemies with different realities.

History teaches us that media lies can be deadly. We’ve seen it in authoritarian regimes, in war propaganda, in disinformation campaigns. Even in our everyday lives, lies have real impact: people get defamed, elections are swayed, public debate becomes poisoned.

Who Is to Blame?

It’s easy to point fingers at journalists and editors – and yes, they bear responsibility. But they’re not alone. Politicians who lie without consequence play a part. And so do we, the audience.

Each time we share a headline without checking the source…
Each time we spread something just because it feels true…
Each time we let anger override judgment –
we contribute to the lie winning.

How We Protect Ourselves

We need resistance – not through censorship or state control, but through awareness.

We must learn to recognize manipulative headlines. Read beyond the title. Check the source. And, most importantly, pause before liking, sharing, or reacting.

We must also support the media outlets that do it right. The ones that value clarity over clicks. The ones that correct their mistakes. The ones that challenge power instead of cozying up to it.

When the Lie Becomes the Norm

Perhaps the most alarming development is when lies no longer surprise us. When we shrug and say, “Everyone lies anyway.”
When falsehood becomes normal, truth loses its power.
And without truth, we have no shared ground to stand on.

That’s when facts become opinions, and opinions become facts. That’s when democracy dies – not with a bang, but with a thousand little distortions.

We Still Have a Choice

It’s not too late. There’s still time to turn things around. It begins in classrooms, where young people learn to think critically. It continues at the dinner table, where we talk about what we read and why we believe it. And it happens every time one of us pauses and asks: “Wait – is this really true?”

Standing up for the truth is not the easy path. But it’s the only path forward.

We must dare to be inconvenient. Dare to say no to lies, even when they confirm our own biases. Dare to defend what is true, even when it’s unpopular.

Only when we understand how dangerous a lie can be – and how precious the truth is – can we begin to rebuild what is now at risk of collapsing.