Historians confront fabricated accounts reshaping historical narratives
In the digital age, historical narratives are increasingly being shaped and contested online, as seen in Germany and the Philippines.
In Germany, far-right actors are attempting to relativize the Nazi era and question democratic order on Telegram channels. The danger of digital and thus real historical amnesia is growing, as social media rewards emotional content and facts lose reach, creating zones of historical uncertainty.
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the digital reinterpretation of the Marcos dictatorship has significantly influenced collective memory and political discourse. Online platforms and social media have been used to challenge and revise narratives about the Marcos era, which lasted from 1965 to 1986 and was marked by authoritarian rule and human rights abuses.
Studies show that young voters in the Philippines, who did not experience martial law, were strongly influenced by these digital narratives. Pro-Marcos networks engaged in targeted historical revisionism online for years, portraying the Marcos dictatorship as a "golden age." Tsek.ph found that 92% of all checked online content about Marcos Jr. was positive and false, while 96% of misinformation about his rival Leni Robredo was negative and defamatory.
This battle over historical memory influences electoral politics, public opinion, and policy discussions. In contrast, Germany, with its experience of dictatorship under Nazi rule and later the East German communist regime, has carefully preserved collective memory through education, digital archives, and memorial culture to prevent revisionism.
Comparatively, both countries show how digital media reshape collective memory, though the impact differs with respect to historical context, political culture, and the robustness of democratic institutions. The Philippines faces ongoing challenges related to contested memories and democratic backsliding, while Germany emphasizes transparent historical reckoning as a foundation for democracy.
Notable events in the Philippines include the burial of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in Manila's heroes' cemetery in 2016, symbolically rehabilitating the Marcos family. Since taking office, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been systematically normalizing the dictatorship of his father, revising textbooks, weakening memorial institutions, and banning critical terms like "martial law" or "human rights violations" from official speeches.
The past has been algorithmically erased in the Philippines, with social media platforms flooded with posts praising economic miracles under Marcos Sr. and denying his crimes. A video on TikTok claiming no one was arrested during martial law racked up over 187 million views. The Marcos family is accused of plundering billions from the Philippine state coffers during Marcos Sr.'s rule.
Pulse Asia found in 2022 that younger voters disproportionately supported Marcos Jr., while older voters tended to favor Robredo. This digital canonization was facilitated by an alliance between pro-Marcos and pro-Duterte networks, which stoked mistrust in independent media and political opponents.
In conclusion, the digital reinterpretation of historical eras, as seen in the Marcos dictatorship in the Philippines and the Nazi era in Germany, underscores the importance of preserving and promoting factual historical narratives in the digital age. It also highlights the need for vigilance against digital disinformation and historical revisionism, particularly in democracies facing challenges to their institutional robustness and commitment to democratic values.
- As in the Philippines, where online platforms and social media are being used to contest and revise narratives about the Marcos dictatorship, political actors in other countries may also employ digital media to shape and influence election campaign narratives.
- Personal growth and social-media savvy can be beneficial for career development, as demonstrated by those who strategically use digital platforms to disseminate favorable narratives about themselves or their political campaigns.
- The rise of digital disinformation and historical revisionism, as observed in the Philippines and Germany, emphasizes the significance of education-and-self-development in discerning factual information from false narratives.
- Policy-and-legislation concerning digital media regulations, including fact-checking mechanisms and efforts to combat disinformation, are essential in ensuring the accuracy of narratives that shape public opinion and influence election outcomes.
- In the digital age, attention to general-news events, such as the latest developments in war-and-conflicts or political scandals, is crucial in maintaining an informed perspective and making informed decisions, particularly during election campaigns.
