The last ten years have consisted of one massive historical event after another. Whether it be the recent political turmoil, the COVID-19 pandemic, or the numerous international conflicts, “breaking news” has become very common. As a result of the development of the internet, misinformation has become increasingly frequent as well.
In a study done by the Poynter Institute in 2022, around 62 percent of Americans attest to seeing false information online at least once a week. This can hinder one’s ability to form an educated opinion because the information they are getting is not necessarily the complete truth. When propaganda and fake-news can be so easily accessed on the internet, it’s very important to understand how to recognize and avoid misinformation.
According to the Pew Research Center, around half of Americans get at least some of their news from social media. While it can be a valuable resource, informing users on recent important events is simply no longer social media’s intended purpose. For about the last decade, the spread of misinformation has become rampant on social media, because anybody can post anything without including reliable evidence. Social media is simply not a reliable source, and should be looked at critically when researching current events.
In order to avoid misinformation and bias, it is important to be able to distinguish between reliable news articles and advertisements. Some articles or videos one may see are sponsored, and while there is a legal obligation to state when this is the case, it can still be unclear. In a study conducted by Stanford Researchers in 2016, the Stanford History Education Groups (SHEG) research showed that more than 80 percent of American high school students are unable to tell the difference between news stories and ads. While they can be difficult to tell apart, there are a few signs that can signal an unreliable source.
When looking at a website that has news articles or other media, always take note of the image quality and formatting. Aspects of a trustworthy website include organization, and clarity. A site that is relatively easy to maneuver through, and is not glitchy or confusing, is way more likely to be reliable.
Another thing to look for when deeming information valuable is whether or not the author and their sources are openly displayed. All these qualities are reasons to believe that a website or article has had a substantial amount of work put into it. It should be clear to the reader that the information that is being shared has been thoroughly researched, and was not hastily thrown together to create “buzz”, or gossip.
It’s also important to keep in mind the purpose of the article or promotion. It’s incredibly easy to find information or news that holds a lot of bias, and is written or shared to spread propaganda. Always look for sources that seem neutral and have the purpose to educate readers.
Unfortunately, as technology and artificial intelligence advance, it will become even more difficult to understand what is true and what is not. But a solution to this problem is always cross checking online information with different sources. It’s much more valuable to read multiple sources that are discussing the same topic, to see what news and information seems more reliable. Find trustworthy sources, and have an open mind, only then can one really be truly informed.