Everyday there’s something new on social media feeding misinformation to viewers, scaring people and spreading false news across the world.
On social media, news is used as entertainment. When people want views that often results in people creating the most interesting, even fake, stories. “Today more than eight in ten Americans get their news on digital devices- beating out TV, radio, or print,” stated pirg.org.This means that oftentimes, people aren’t getting their information from professionals. Instead it is coming from a social media user who is looking for likes and views.
Now, because of social media, anyone can be a journalist. “Instead of opinion sections or dedicated programs for pundits, social media feeds mix opinions and facts together,” explained pirg.org. Everyone knows that the crazier story results in better results for the content creator.
One of the most common, and sometimes dangerous, misinformation on social media is regarding health. “In 2020, a video falsely claimed that consuming garlic could prevent COVID-19, leading to widespread sharing despite a lack of scientific evidence,” claimed captechu.edu. Oftentimes, when people see this information on social media, they don’t fact check it and then someone else shares this information again; it’s just a chain reaction resulting in false facts spreading.
According to captech.edu, “A 2022 report found that roughly a fifth of TikTok videos contain misinformation.” TikTok makes for a perfect source to spread false information, with its short videos that grab people’s attention, not being long enough to make someone bored. Curious users are pulled in by the exaggerated or misleading content produced by creators.
With all the wrong information circulating on social media, people should begin to fact check what they hear. Instead of just jumping to conclusions, people should be researching what they hear and instead use a reliable source. Stopping the spread is important and in the end can help people.
Along with social media’s misinformation spreading false and possibly dangerous news, it also can divide people all across America. As political parties continue to separate American people, social media is helping that continue by spreading false news or exaggerating news about political parties. “Nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults say that news media is increasing political polarization in the United States,” stated The Associated Press.
Instead of jumping to conclusions based off of what is shown on social media, people should research information on reliable sources. It’s important for people to come up with their own opinion and see facts from reliable sources instead of using social media as a main source for news.