The contemporary state of the world has arguably been defined in our collective consciousness by a level of unprecedented chaos and division: a sharp departure from the optimistic attitudes prevalent by the turn of the millennium. This era of relatively increased nihilism and political strife is a natural symptom of the disillusionment in the prevalent idea of continuous growth in both stability and prosperity worldwide. An articulation of these vague, idealistic notions of progress can be found in Francis Fukuyama’s now infamous work, The End of History and the Last Man, published in 1989, wherein he argues boldly that the triumph of Western democracies over the Soviet Union is the final shift in history: the only remaining political development remaining is the inevitable adoption of liberal democracy all over the globe, which will ultimately lead to a more peaceful and prosperous world. The radical shifts in demographic makeup, ethnic and religious strife, as well as regional economic woes due to globalization, have decisively revealed the naivety of Fukuyama’s hypothesis.  These unstable changes to the fabric of society have caused a resurgence in radical political thought, a phenomenon which both accompanied and facilitated the continued ascent of postmodernism (a reaction to modernism which rejects the idea of objectivity and often promotes the idea of relative truth). Furthermore, the vast technological advancement of what we now call the digital age has replaced the primary method by which ideas diffuse from print to the internet, a transition so quick its consequences were unlikely to be adapted to. This catastrophic coalition of factors has led to an inundation of misinformation washing over the public. As a result, widespread feelings of apathy arise: events that should invoke anger and outrage are quickly forgotten as global attention marches ever forwards.

While there are a myriad of examples of such phenomena occurring within the past decade alone, the media’s treatment of the civil war in Myanmar is a particularly egregious instance of an issue being ignored. In February 2021, the military junta in Myanmar overthrew the democratically elected government, sparking a civil war that continues to rage on to this day. Yet, nearly half a decade later, discourse about the conflict is sparse, at least in the western world. Gaon Ju, a junior at Wayne Hills High School, when asked how much he knew about the conflict, simply replied, “Not much.” Gaon’s perspective is all too common, a result of the digital systems built to maximize human attention. Without actively searching for information on the conflict, the news algorithm will not deliver information about such topics to prospective readers: yet the ignorance the algorithm induces upon its users ensures that they are almost incapable of breaking away from the content that is served to them. Often, many individuals informed of these issues do not act. Gaon admitted that he doesn’t really follow politics and the news, stating that he wants to focus his attention on his life. This is understandable, as it is difficult for humans to care about issues that affect them personally, particularly if it seems as though there is no measurable impact one can have. In this era of heightened political turmoil, diverting one’s attention from the immediate issues of their surroundings can seem foolish. The modern landscape of mass media bombards consumers with inflammatory content, fracturing people over fault lines, ultimately weakening our attention on issues that really matter. Myanmar is on the other side of the globe, and finding ways to support the coalition of militant groups opposing the junta seems impossible. However, we can make a difference for even the furthest-removed issues. Raising awareness is the very first step in helping the fight against autocracy: it is a step that anyone can take. Though your efforts may not seem to make a difference, caring about such issues is part of our civic responsibility and ensures that our participation in our democracy remains strong.