Year 12 Philosophy at the State Library of Victoria.
Truth, Trust, and TikTok.
On Wednesday, August 13th, our VCE Unit 3/4 Philosophy students travelled to the State Library of Victoria for Big Ideas for Young Minds: Make Believe - a full-day program exploring the theme of misinformation. This event aligned closely with our Unit 4 studies on social epistemology, belief formation, trust, and epistemic responsibility.
The day featured thought-provoking workshops with leading communicators. Journalist Sushi Das unpacked the dynamics of social media, examining how content spreads and how critical thinking can protect us from being misled. Comedian and writer, Sami Shah, guided us through the art of dissecting news, prompting us to ask what makes information trustworthy in the first place.
Students also explored the Make Believe: Explorations in Misinformation exhibition, which revealed the subtle ways falsehoods are constructed and reinforced. This experience deepened our philosophical inquiry into what it means to “believe well” - not just for ourselves, but for the epistemic community we share with others.
Mr. Miguel Regalo
Helen L reflected that the most thought-provoking part was Sami Shah’s talk on fake news:
“In a society flooded with constant online content, misinformation and the spread of falsehoods feel more pervasive than ever. One point that became especially clear was that emotional triggers often fuel fake news and disinformation. When a claim provokes strong feelings, we can be tempted to share it immediately with friends and family. So before you share something out of fear, anger or shock, pause, think critically, and check whether it’s true.”
Tessa B highlighted the impact of the exhibition:
“Personally, I enjoyed the exhibition tour most, as it really made us reflect on how quickly we tend to believe information we encounter. It offered new ways of thinking about how mis/disinformation spreads and affects people.”
For Deeksha S, the Make Believe Tour stood out as a chance to apply critical thinking:
“Each room was distinctive - ranging from restoring Blak presence to lost Persian history - and challenged us to spot where misinformation appeared. This eventually led us to choose Medical Misogyny as the case study for our coursework. We left rethinking the ways we consume information and the importance of questioning our sources.”