The editorial board of a respected sociological journal has commissioned an article on modern social structures. Write a report dissecting the root causes—beyond social media—contributing to the widespread decline in public trust in key institutions (e.g., government, science, legacy media). Present a personal thesis on the long-term viability of democracy under conditions of hyper-fragmented belief systems, and outline three abstract questions for a roundtable discussion on restoring epistemic authority. The report should be titled: The Erosion of Institutional Trust in the Digital Age.