The technologies that empowered communication have also produced new problems. Social media platforms can spread false information faster than verified information. "Fake news" became a significant political phenomenon in the 2010s. State actors (especially Russia) have used social media to manipulate elections in other countries. Deepfake technology threatens to make video evidence unreliable. Many democracies have struggled with how to maintain shared public truths in environments where any claim can be amplified to millions.

IV. Climate Change and Environmental Challenges

Climate change is the most consequential environmental challenge of our era and likely the most consequential single problem humanity faces in this century. Maria should understand its basic science, its observed effects, and the political responses to it.