Real News vs Fake News

Madison Kopp

mk193818@ohio.edu

Photo via keypersonofinfluence.com

In this generation of phones, technology and social media becoming more and more popular everyday, the question is how true is everything we read on a day to day basis?

We consume most of our days with scrolling hours and hours on whatever social media platform we prefer. We look at it when we wake up and when we go to bed.  It is constantly around us no matter where we go. 

According to a Pew Research Center early 2020 survey, "71% of people get at least some of their news input from social media platforms." Now more than ever social media platforms have become a critical news source. 

 

Social media plays a role in communicating critical information at a fast rate along with the importance of the accurate information being posted. As we watch the news being posted/tweeted we are probably believing the story or the "facts" of what we see. 

This is where the concept of fake news comes up. Fake news is essentially false information or stories that are tweeted, posted or shared on the internet or social media.

Fake news is very popular in political campaigns to make you think one way or another about the opposing candidate. 

But how do journalists provide us with only real news in a world of false news being spread?

When journalists are writing a story or posting a certain thing on social media they should constantly be checking and double checking their facts and not get them confused with either opinion or just something that isn't true. If they are doubtful about a specific stat or story they should either not post it or own up to the fact that they aren't completely sure if it is or not. 

This also can go for users on social media. If you are reading an article or a post and feel uneasy about the factual information, they shouldn't repost it or they can do their own research and come to their own conclusions to whether they should believe it or not.