Redefining Truth in the Digital Age: An Epistemological Inquiry into Fake News and the Knowledge Crisis

In the age of digital media and pervasive fake news, the concept of truth has entered a profound epistemological crisis. Information is no longer evaluated solely on evidence or rational justification but is increasingly shaped by algorithms, emotions, and identity-based narratives. This paper proposes a radical philosophical position: in a fragmented and unreliable information environment, the only stable reference point of truth is the self—the “I.” Drawing from epistemology, existential philosophy, and contemporary debates on post-truth society, the study argues that external claims to truth lose their authority when they fail to provide inner coherence or meaning. The paper emphasizes the importance of disengaging from ego-driven validation, social comparison, and imposed narratives, suggesting instead a turn toward self-awareness and inner contentment. When an individual attains inner satisfaction and clarity, the binary opposition between right and wrong, true and false, becomes secondary to lived authenticity. In this framework, truth is not merely an external correspondence with facts but an internal state of harmony and self-realization. The paper does not deny the social importance of facts; rather, it questions their dominance over human well-being. Ultimately, it reframes truth in the digital age as a deeply personal, experiential phenomenon rooted in the individual’s sense of “I” and inner fulfillment.