By Sofia Williams
Editor-in-Chief
Since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the amount of misinformation on social media has increased exponentially. From false claims about COVID-19 vaccinations to political conspiracy theories, the internet has become a dangerous place for truth.
The misinformation prevalent on social media contributes to the increasing schism between political ideologies. This divide makes unbiased, truthful information rare, as social media users are shown content which aligns with their political ideology, regardless of whether it is true or not. As a result, the American people become increasingly unwilling to consider different political perspectives.
As a result of the constancy of misinformation and polarizing ideas online, our trust in the news as a people has steadily diminished. According to a Gallup poll, only 34% of Americans trust the mass media to report the news “fully, accurately and fairly.” However, we too often rely on Twitter for our information when we should be double-checking our sources on credible news sites.
But how can we maintain access to credible information when journalists, the arbiters of truth, are consistently endangered?
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 175 journalists have been killed worldwide since 2020, and still more have been the victims of violence and imprisonment. When members of the press are viewed as the enemy, the public’s access to information is at risk and the human rights of reporters are under attack. However, this is not just a global issue. In America, journalists have been beaten, jailed, and even killed for simply doing their jobs, often by police officers or protesting mobs.
While the issue of press freedom is one that I am fiercely passionate about as a student journalist, it is crucial that all people work to fight for the rights of journalists. When journalists are no longer able to do their jobs, the public becomes uninformed, or worse, misinformed. Time and time again, history has shown that a misinformed public can quickly lead to tyranny.
So I implore you, the next time you see something on social media that causes you to raise an eyebrow, double check your facts. Even a single flagged post can change the trajectory of a piece of misinformation and contribute to the acceptance of credible news.
Leave a Reply