Thanks to our sitting president, phrases like “alternative facts” and “fake news” get thrown around daily. Yet, a substantial number of Americans consume news from unsupported sources like social media platforms regularly without batting an eyelash. In fact, according to Pew Research Center, as of August 2017, 67 percent of Americans indicated that they consumed at least some portion of their news on social media.
The problem isn’t necessarily how people are getting their news – as an aspiring journalist I’m just happy that I’d still have a job someday. The real problem is that unlike with print or television, anyone with internet access can suddenly parade as a reputable news source without actually doing any research, having knowledge of AP Style guidelines or abiding by the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics, for instance.
Sure, there are established news outlets and reporters who use social media to highlight key stories, so using these platforms isn’t inherently wrong. However, it should be noted that these outlets and individuals typically reference reliable sources, use quotes and include links to find the full story. Why? Because there’s no way for anyone to have a full grasp about what’s going on in the world in 280 characters or less.
In an age where the access to information has been easier than any other time in history, it’s about time that we become that well-educated and informed society that we profess to be. I mean, wouldn’t it make sense to go to the polls with a clear understanding about what you’re actually being asked to vote for, outside of picking a candidate? How refreshing would it be to be able to have a friendly debate about real issues by quoting factual data instead of “well-I-think”s and “I-heard-it-somewhere-that”s.
This has to start with us, the consumers. If you come across information, especially on social media, don’t simply accept it as fact; challenge it. Consider whether the story was cast in a biased light, which more than often means that the information was skewed to make one side look better. Was the information vague, indicated through the use of broad phrases like “a study” which was seemingly conducted by no one in particular? Was an ambiguous statement quoted without the source providing any context? Did your aunt Facebook message you a link to an article written by The Onion, not realizing that it was a self-proclaimed satirical newspaper?
It’s understandable that we might not all have time or opportunity to sit down to watch a whole hour-long news cycle on television. Honestly, with news or anything else in general, it is important to do a little fact-checking and questioning of your own. Otherwise, we’d all probably still be waiting to find out where all of the millions of illegal Hillary Clinton voters came from and why they were allowed to vote in the 2016 presidential election.
