Dec 13, 2024, 12:00 AM
Dec 13, 2024, 12:00 AM

Trump supporters live in an alternate reality on Rumble

Subjective
Highlights
  • In November 2020, the author exclusively watched Rumble for news, abandoning traditional media sources.
  • The content viewed was primarily focused on right-wing narratives, leading to feelings of discomfort about the skewed information.
  • This experience illustrated the profound impact of biased media on individual perspectives and the distortion of political realities.
Story

In the wake of Donald J. Trump's presidential victory, many right-wing influencers began promoting the narrative that they had become the new media. The author embarked on an experiment to consume news exclusively from Rumble, a platform known for its conservative bias, starting on November 18, shortly after the election. Over the span of a week, the author deleted traditional news sources from their routine, which led to a consistent focus on controversial and sometimes conspiratorial narratives, driven largely by outrage against progressives and perceived threats to Republican figures. Through various shows, the author consumed content that claimed Democrats were actively endangering Republican lives, an assertion rooted in anecdotal reports and amplified by passionate commentators. Initially believing this content would provide a balanced understanding of events, the author soon felt uncomfortable as they shared their thoughts with their spouse, who remarked on the skewed nature of the information. Reactions from Rumble hosts suggested a conspiratorial framing of events, where the responsibility for the narratives created by right-wing media was placed on the broader public who consumed them. This shift towards an alternative reality was indicative of a larger trend among Trump supporters and influenced the author’s perspectives on political affairs. The deep dive into Rumble’s offerings illustrated how media consumption could distort reality, showcasing a filter bubble where misinformation could flourish. The content promoted an environment rife with mistrust toward mainstream journalism, which many viewers on the platform believed to be biased. Overall, the experience served to highlight the potential consequences of radical media consumption on an individual's worldview—demonstrating how they could begin to see political issues in an oversimplified, binary manner. The author observed how rapidly exposure to singular viewpoints altered their perception and prompted deeper contemplation on the media's role in shaping public opinion and the communal discourse surrounding contentious political events.

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