Authenticity at the heart of communication

Abstract

Authenticity has become a defining issue in contemporary communication, with challenges spanning fake identities, mis/disinformation, AI-generated hallucinations, and identity performance online. Following Lee’s (2020) authenticity model of mediated communication, I first examine authenticity through three key dimensions—source, message, and interaction authenticity—highlighting real-world cases that illustrate the evolving nature of trust and deception in digital environments. Drawing upon recent research, I explore how individuals authenticate communication, the cognitive and motivational factors shaping truth discernment, and the role of communication channels in influencing authenticity judgments. I then argue that fostering a trustworthy communication ecosystem, rather than simply encouraging blind trust, is essential to navigating the current authenticity crisis. As communication scholars are uniquely positioned to address these challenges through rigorous scholarship, I propose five research priorities: expanding beyond communication media, prioritizing social engagement, promoting “communication for good,” humanizing communication research, and synthesizing across research traditions.