Velvet Lies in a Digital Age — Why Being ‘Factful’ Matters More Than Ever
At FYT, we believe that data is one of the most powerful forces shaping today’s decisions. But in a world where emotion drives engagement and algorithms amplify outrage, we must ask: how do we build a truly data-driven culture—one grounded in curiosity, not clickbait?
Let’s start by recognising an uncomfortable truth: emotion has always been a tool of persuasion. Salespeople, politicians, and marketers have long relied on four powerful emotional levers:
Fear
Greed
Sex
Flattery
These tactics aren't new. What’s changed is how easily—and invisibly—they now scale. Social media, algorithmic feeds, and now Generative AI have supercharged these triggers, making it harder than ever to tell the difference between persuasion and manipulation.
Four Timeless Levers, Supercharged
Fear grabs attention: fear of missing out, fear of injustice, fear of loss.
Greed promises shortcuts to wealth, success, and status.
Sex—as old as advertising itself—still drives clicks and views.
Flattery validates biases, reinforces “us vs them,” and builds echo chambers.
When paired with algorithmic reach and AI content generation, these tactics can flood your feed with narratives that feel right—but may not be right.
Even the Gatekeepers Are Feeling the Pressure
Not long ago, we relied on mainstream media to verify facts, contextualise information, and filter out the noise. But the economics of journalism have shifted. Newsrooms are now caught in a race of immediacy versus accuracy—pushed to publish fast to stay relevant.
Some have become part of the echo chamber themselves, picking up trending content from social platforms without proper verification. When mistakes are made, corrections come quietly—long after the damage is done.
The Truth Is Out There—But It's Quiet
In theory, we could fact-check everything. In practice? Most people lack the time, energy, or tools. And it's far easier to believe something that flatters your worldview than something that challenges it.
As the saying goes:
“Better a hard truth than a comforting lie.”
Consider this example:
The comforting lie: “You can double your income in 30 days with no experience, just by following these 3 AI hacks.”It’s exciting, easy, and promises everything with no effort.
The inconvenient truth: “Learning to apply AI meaningfully takes time, experimentation, and critical thinking. There are no shortcuts—only better questions and clearer thinking.”
The first gets clicks. The second builds capability.
So What Can We Do? Be Factful.
At FYT, we recommend a mindset shift—from reaction to reflection, from outrage to factfulness.
Coined by the late Hans Rosling, Factfulness is about seeking clarity through reliable data. It means understanding the world not through headlines or hearsay, but through structured, well-interpreted evidence. It's not about denying emotion—but about balancing emotion with evidence.
Being factful means:
Asking “what do the numbers actually say?”
Looking for patterns, not just anecdotes.
Choosing curiosity over certainty.
Pausing before reacting—or reposting.
Most importantly, it means turning to credible sources, not loud voices.
Trusted Sources We Recommend
At FYT, we regularly use and recommend these platforms to help teams and leaders stay grounded in facts:
Gapminder.org – for big-picture insights on global trends, demystified.
World Bank Data – for macroeconomic and developmental indicators.
Singapore Department of Statistics – for reliable, contextualised local data.
These aren't just data repositories. They help decision-makers move from noise to nuance—and that’s what a true data culture requires.
Building a Data Culture Starts With Thinking Differently
A truly data-driven culture doesn’t begin with tools or dashboards—it begins with mindset.
At FYT, we’ve found that the most meaningful data cultures are built by:
Asking better, clearer questions
Cultivating curiosity and challenge, not just compliance
Encouraging teams to interpret, not just analyse
Empowering people to trust data thoughtfully, not blindly
Being factful is not just good practice. It’s a survival skill in the information age—and a leadership differentiator in a world of noise.
Final Word: Think Before You Believe
Emotion is not the enemy. But emotion without inquiry leads us astray.
As Generative AI makes it easier than ever to flood the world with plausible falsehoods, the need for critical thinking, structured reasoning, and fact-based storytelling becomes even more urgent.
At FYT, we’re committed to helping individuals and organisations not just use data—but understand it, challenge it, and communicate it with clarity.
Because in the end, the question isn’t just what we believe. It’s how we decide what to believe.
Comments