Public Trust in Institutions Falters Amid Weak Regulation and Digital Misinformation

In an era defined by rapid technological advancement and shifting social dynamics, public trust in governance, institutions, and media continues to erode at an alarming rate. Researchers warn this deterioration will persist if regulatory frameworks fail to keep pace with developments in artificial intelligence and social media monetization strategies that prioritize attention over accuracy.

The rise of what experts call an “attention-seeking economy” has fueled unprecedented political polarization and social division, according to recent research. This digital landscape rewards inflammatory content, often at the expense of factual reporting and balanced discourse.

“Governance is at the core of maintaining public trust and this requires decisions that are made by organizations to be inclusive and equitable,” explains Dr. Thelela Ngcetane-Vika, a Lecturer in the Wits School of Governance. She emphasizes that good governance demands leadership that demonstrates accountability and transparency—foundational elements for rebuilding institutional trust.

Ngcetane-Vika’s research examines how gender impacts power dynamics within governance systems. She argues that gender equality should be a permanent feature on institutional agendas, not merely through “well-written speeches and political rhetoric,” but through intentional policy implementation.

“With the genderization of governance, a new functional paradigm could emerge to promote truly inclusive organizations,” she notes, suggesting this approach could help restore public confidence in leadership structures.

The South African context provides a stark example of trust erosion, where failures to address critical social issues—poverty, unemployment, inequality, healthcare access, and education disparities—combined with rampant corruption and governmental inefficiency, have severely damaged public confidence in institutions.

Professor Keith Breckenridge from the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WiSER) offers a different perspective, suggesting that public skepticism can actually indicate democratic maturity. Through WiSER’s Trust Project, Breckenridge examines what he terms “trust infrastructures”—digital systems including biometric identification, machine learning algorithms, credit scoring mechanisms, and banking networks.

“The banking system is an example within the trust infrastructures where trust and mistrust coexist,” Breckenridge explains. “By emphasizing vigilance, banks have created an environment in which their systems are seen to be reliable and trustworthy by users.”

However, he expresses concern about mistrust between central banking authorities, particularly between China and the United States. “If the Chinese and the U.S. central banks mistrust each other, that can create all sorts of problems,” he notes, pointing to the tenfold increase in gold prices since 2001 as evidence of this institutional mistrust manifesting in global markets.

Perhaps most concerning is what Breckenridge describes as the “economy of mistrust” emerging on social media platforms. Tech giants like Meta, Google, and X (formerly Twitter) have created economic models that reward attention-grabbing content regardless of its veracity, contributing significantly to the spread of misinformation.

Breckenridge advocates for stronger regulatory frameworks that would hold platform companies partly liable for falsehoods published on their sites. “If somebody says something that is untrue on these platforms, Meta should share some of the liability, as would be the case for newspapers which, if they publish something that’s libelous, are held responsible,” he argues.

Industry observers note that tech companies have long resisted such regulatory approaches, citing concerns about free speech and the practical challenges of content moderation at scale. However, as public trust continues to decline, pressure for meaningful reform grows from both government entities and civil society organizations.

While Breckenridge acknowledges that democratic skepticism expressed on digital platforms can be constructive, he warns against the monopolization of these spaces by a handful of powerful corporations, suggesting that concentrated control of information channels presents its own threats to public discourse and trust.

As societies navigate this complex landscape, the research suggests that rebuilding institutional trust will require multilayered approaches: gender-inclusive governance, robust regulatory frameworks, and renewed commitments to transparency and accountability across both public and private sectors.