Whether you are scrolling on TikTok, Instagram, X or Facebook, you will come across some sort of news. From the 2024 presidential election, California wildfires, TikTok ban, New Jersey drones to the Presidential inauguration, etc.. Social media outlets are flooded with headlines and shortened clips taken out of context. This poses a major threat to the younger generations since getting information from social media is so normalized. This issue needs action, since we are the ones influencing our own future.
Defined by eSafety.gov, Fake news is, “fictional news stories that are made up to support certain agendas.” There are also other categories of fake news including misinformation and disinformation. Misinformation is incorrect information posed as a fact, misinformation is typically spread unintentionally. On the other hand, disinformation is incorrect information presented to influence opinions or skew the truth.
In a 2022 study by NewsGuard, it was found that 20% of the news information searched on TikTok was fake news. Along with that statistic, The University of Arizona did a study and found that about 40% of medical videos on TikTok were medical misinformation.
Students begin learning about reliable sources and source triangulation as early as elementary school, but it doesn’t make an impact until high school. Some school districts, including Rockwood, provide their students with free access to databases where they can get fully reliable information. In some cases the databases are outdated, or hard to navigate so students take the easy way out and type their question into Google.
According to Pew Research Center, “News websites or apps and search engines are the most common: About two-thirds of U.S. adults at least sometimes get news in each of these ways. A little more than half (54%) at least sometimes get news from social media, and 27% say the same about podcasts.”
This conversation brings up questions about why it is unsafe and unreliable to get information off social media. These platforms use algorithms to prioritize the content you see based on your likelihood to interact with it. For example, if you like a video that is promoting one political candidate, you are now more likely to see videos of that candidate’s good moments and the opposing candidates’ bad moments.
People post headlines, or short posts to grab the attention of consumers. It is crucial to your personal intelligence to take that information one step further and use a reliable source to fact check. If you come across a headline that you’re questioning, use sources that are .Org or .Gov to ensure reliability.
Another issue that is becoming increasingly problematic is the use of AI to create photos and videos that look so realistic that it is difficult to tell what is real and what is not. Near the beginning stages of the California wildfires, photos and videos of the famous Hollywood sign engulfed in flames were trending. The California wildfires are not the only thing that people are creating AI images of.
There are many methods and mnemonic devices in place to help people remember how to make sure a source is credible. Such as RADAR, created by Jane Mandalios.
- Relevance – is this precisely relevant to your research issue?
- Authority – how credible is the author/creator?
- Date – the date may or may not affect this source’s validity, but what is it?
- Appearance – what does it tell you about the intended audience?
- Reason – the source was created? What biases does the reason reveal?
Along with using Google or social media, then having to fact check your information there are specific non-biased websites in place. Such as Allsides.com which contains information from left, center and right political views. Associated press (apnews.com) is another source that is focused on real, reliable journalism. These sources and many more are available for anyone with access to the internet to get on and find real facts.
The constant spread of fake news leads to a distrust in the media, if you were to see that your favorite political figure said something you agreed with, and then it turned out that they never said that. That branches out to different issues such as lowering the effectiveness of the democratic process. It is also harmful to political figures, celebrities and important people because it allows people to start rumors or conspiracy theories.
Stop using social media to find, share and spread disinformation. Instead find a reliable source and share the reliable information. By doing so we can collectively lower the rate of fake news spread, and allow everyone to become more informed on world, national and local events.
