Social Media and Fake News

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Fake news...it's Donald Trump's war cry about circulating news stories that may (or may not) be true about him. And while it may have turned into a running joke to some people, it actually has turned into a major problem in our country. Just this past week, a lovely story about Marines rescuing babies from the Pentagon on 9/11 found its way onto my social media feeds. It was an inspiring and heartwarming story at a time of remembrance to the thousands of Americans who lost their lives on that tragic day. Unfortunately, it was fake. See Fact Check.
The problem of fake news is exacerbated by the fact that approximately 6 out of 10 Americans get their news from social media. And the number appears to be growing, each and every day. That's right. Americans no longer rely on long-established forms of media who hire fact-checkers like television, radio, and newspapers as their sources for news stories. See News Use Across Social Media Platforms.


Social media has taken over as the disseminator of information, and social media platforms are now challenged with providing accurate information to their viewers. This challenge is heightened by the fact that a majority of the people do not read anything more than the headlines...they do not read the story; they do not take a moment to ask if the story is true. They simply accept the written headline as true and then they share it. See Facebook and Fake NewsWhen I see a news story online, I frequently question its veracity and explore further to determine its accuracy. But apparently, I am a lone soul in the woods.

It's time for people to start to take personal responsibility for their news consumption. Yes, it is important for social media platforms, like Facebook, to continue in their fight against the posting of fake news on their sites. However, it is even more important for people to be aware of the potential for misinformation on social media, and not just blindly accept whatever they read as the truth.

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