Self-inflicted wounds and a worsening chasm: how the reaction to disinformation during the 2016 election campaign was more harmful than the disinformation itself. — Nearly five years ago a new era of online discourse began, and the inescapable issue of online disinformation was highlighted as a significant threat to Western democracy. With this new era came a stark realisation: a growing reliance on social media for political debate and discussion was leaving us vulnerable.