Facts can correct information, but they rarely replace stories. Myths do not survive because they are accurate. They survive because they are useful. A myth simplifies complexity, offers meaning, and provides emotional comfort. When a belief serves these functions, evidence alone rarely feels powerful enough to remove it. Most myths are not remembered as data. They are remembered as narratives. Narratives are easier for the brain to store, repeat, and share. They contain char

Every society tells stories about who it is. Just as importantly, it tells stories about who it is not. Heroes define ideals, but villains define boundaries. They give shape to fear, disagreement, and uncertainty. Without them, identity can feel blurred. Shared enemies simplify complex realities.

The internet feels free. Most platforms cost nothing to join, nothing to scroll, nothing to explore. Yet the largest companies in the world are built on it. If we are not paying with money, we are paying with something else. We are paying with attention. Every notification, recommendation, and endless feed is designed around one goal: to keep you looking. The longer attention stays in one place, the more valuable that space becomes. Advertisers purchase it. Platforms optimise