Misinformation from social platforms and news sites is guiding many of our lives and not in a good way. Many of you may not even realize it. Well, I’ve got a wakeup call for you.
You are being manipulated by the masses. Some of us see it, like myself, but I am in no position to stop it. I have no power or authority over these matters.
Most of what you are getting from Facebook and Twitter, and your TV news stations is misinformation. They are providing you with a narrative that best suits their agenda. You are being fooled, tricked, hoodwinked, in this “Information Age”.
What is misinformation?
Misinformation is the act of giving wrong information about something. It is incorrect or misleading information.
Can You Trust Local News?
Beware! Misinformation is even being spread at the local level. This has a huge impact since Americans are most likely to believe what they read and hear from local news outlets. This poor practice is taking place not only in the big cities, and on your digital devices, but in your back yard as well.
The Freedom’s Phoenix, a local news site in Phoenix, and The Atlanta Business Journal, a news site in Atlanta, both published articles containing negative and false information about the COVID-19 vaccine. The doctor who was interviewed is known by other researchers and regulators as a top spreader of misinformation of COVID information.
These are not isolated instances. They are happening all over the country.
A 2019 Knight-Gallup study found that 45 percent of Americans trust reporting by local news organizations “a great deal” or “quite a lot,” compared with 31 percent for national news organizations.
People think they are trusting their local news, something reliable and familiar, when in fact they are trusting misinformation.
Self-Made Journalists
With social media becoming so popular in the last decade — credible news outlets have become diluted. The internet is flooded with amateur journalists, many who do not take the time or effort to properly vet their sources. In ignorance sometimes, misinformation is being spread. That doesn’t mean it’s okay. It just means you have to be a bit more diligent in verifying the source of information is credible.
Think of this way. Do you believe everything anyone tells you? “John says if you eat Bat dung you will live a longer life. He saw it on a documentary.” Ok! Let’s get some. No! You go research that shit. A few minutes online to several reputable sites can shed some lite on the situation.
This is the same thing for “news” posted on social media sites. Any Jill, Bob, and Karen can get a website or start a blog and say they are giving you “Breaking News”. But are they citing their sources? Are you able to verify that the sources are credible? If not, consider anything they are putting out as suspect….you don’t know what is true and what is misleading.
Social Platforms are Super-Spreaders of Misinformation
Facebook and other social platforms are a powerful conduit for misinformation of all types from anti-vaccine messaging to false claims of a rigged election.
Before the 2020 election, a popular right-wing commentator and radio host, began spreading rumors on Facebook of a Democratic coup. There were videos with an elaborate but completely false narrative. The coup falsehood was just one piece of misinformation that went viral in right-wing circles. In another unproven rumor that was circulating, a secret network was planning to destroy the ballots of those who voted for Trump.
Stop the Spread of Misinformation
What can you do to help stop the spread of misinformation?
1. Commit to reading entire articles, and not just headlines, before sharing them.
— A good practice is to stop forwarding any news on your social media accounts. Share the article directly from the news site.
2. Improve your own media literacy by carefully considering sources of information.
— Try to stop getting your news from Facebook or social media. Get your news from news outlets — there are multiple options online.
3. Determine if the source of information is credible. Fact-check the stories you encounter on social media before believing them. Point others to fact-checking resources when you see misinformation spreading.
Be mindful that misinformation is present and has been well before the internet and the digital age began.
Everyone has an agenda. It is not always nefarious, but it may not align with your values and principles.
Armed with awareness, do your best to recognize misinformation when encountered and work toward fighting against its spread.
Don’t be hoodwinked by misinformation.
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