
While an endless sea of knowledge is just a click away, the truth has never been harder to find. In a world where Americans crave to know all about the latest scandal, popular news outlets provide a basis for elaborate, sensationalized stories that may not have all of the facts right.
As print newspapers become less common, Americans increasingly turn to the internet and social media to find their daily news. Some of the most popular journalists are actually just social media influencers who seek to gain a following by spreading the craziest and most shocking stories they can find. To the detriment of media consumers, many of these social media influencers have no background in journalism, and they do not research or verify their information before they spread it as “news.”
However, these social media influencers are not the only ones who spread misinformation. Popular online and print news outlets are also known to bypass the fact-checking process in order to get the scoop ahead of their competitors. Some recent examples of inconsistencies between the abiding truth and fleeting facts are the numerous theories as to what truly happened during the 2024 election. As Americans struggled to decide which candidate best aligned with their personal morals, news outlets were spreading misinformation to slander the candidates they opposed. These biases are one of the main reasons why misinformation is so prevalent.
There are a few reasons why a news outlet would spread misinformation. Sometimes, they unknowingly spread lies. This type of misinformation is most common in underqualified journalists who seek a following by prioritizing the speed of their reporting over its quality. Another reason is to create drama. The younger generation of teens and young adults love to follow the latest scandals, so the media has tailored their topics for maximum exposure online. The last reason why media outlets misinform their readers is because they want to convince them to do something. Sometimes these news agencies have an agenda that they wish to subtly display, so they choose angles for their stories that will put their opinions in the best possible light.
One thing that Americans can do to protect themselves from misinformation is to learn how to spot misinformation. If a source misinforms their readers one time, they will likely do it multiple times, so it is a good idea to fact-check multiple articles from a news source to ensure that they are reliable. Another way to spot misinformation is to read multiple angles on the same event to see if the media outlet is leaving out crucial information in order to further its goals. Identifying credible sources with which to cross-check information is crucial for staying informed.
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