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Fact Check Fail: The Impact of Misinformation and the Urgent Need for Social Media Literacy

Writer's picture: Shera PhillipsShera Phillips

We’ve awakened to a world where tiny computers have made access to information more convenient than it has ever been. Not long ago, we had to make a trip to the library or purchase a book to learn about a topic. We knew the information we had access to had gone through a process before it reached us. Now, publishing is as easy as writing a status on Twitter or sharing a video on YouTube or TikTok. Today, you can create and alter images, videos, or audio—all from the palm of your hand—and as tools advance, it becomes increasingly harder to determine fact from fiction. These tools are powerful and bring us many benefits, such as connecting us with people all across the world. Technology allows us to disseminate pertinent information in real time, such as what’s happening on the ground in places like Gaza and Sudan, giving us access to information that may have previously gone without a platform. Though technology has enhanced our lives in some ways, it certainly has hindered us in others. Simply put, a cellphone can be a dangerous tool in the hands of the careless or deviant.


According to a recent UNESCO study, 62% of surveyed creators said they don't vet the accuracy of content before sharing it with their followers, and roughly one-third of influencers admitted to sharing information without checking its validity if it originated from a source they trusted. This presents an issue not only because many of their audience members struggle to decipher facts, but also because social media has amassed a large audience and powerful influence. A recent report from the Pew Research Center found that almost 40% of young Americans aged 18 to 29 "regularly" get their news from influencers, and more than half of American adults "at least sometimes" get their news from social media.




Even though misinformation is most often spread unintentionally, there are those who benefit from the spread of lies, and they disseminate it deliberately. Videos with verifiably false information are generating millions of views. There’s a bounty for your attention, and people are cashing in on misleading content. In September, a Justice Department indictment alleged that a suite of major conservative influencers—including Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, and Dave Rubin—assembled by Tenet Media unwittingly received millions of dollars from Russia to promote divisive narratives that achieved the Kremlin’s goals. In addition to those willing to invest major dollars in the miseducation of the masses, talented individuals are willing to craft or share lies for personal gain. These lies come at a high cost; in December of 2016, a man opened fire in a D.C. pizza restaurant because of false information circulating online. On January 6, 2021, thousands of people believed an election was stolen and stormed the Capitol, demanding the head of Mike Pence, believing their preferred presidential candidate would be able to retain his office.



The fact is there are grave consequences for the dissemination of disinformation, which can lead to delusion, isolation, and outright violence. We cannot rely on social media companies to restrict this content. We, the general public, must do our due diligence and check the validity of the content we consume ourselves. We must learn to evaluate and categorize information, understanding that even though false information isn’t factual, it can still hold value. More on that later.


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