The State of Fake News
The Issues
The Social Media Issue
Just yesterday, I watched the new docu-drama on Netflix titled The Social Dilemma. This film features past social media CEOS, executives–you name it–who have, one way or another, left their job due to ethical concerns. It also features technology experts and professors.
The film centers around how dangerous social media really is. Former Google Design Ethicist and current president of the Center for Human Technology Tristan Harris said that posts including fake news are six times more likely to be shared on social media than posts with real news.
On top of that, social media algorithms are causing the deep political divide. That is because people are being “recommended” to posts or accounts that believe the same things they do.
News is happening for and against both parties, but Harris said liberals aren’t seeing conservative’s news, and conservatives aren’t seeing liberal’s. This is due to algorithms that try to keep users on apps.
The Timing Issue
News organizations now are concerned about being dramatic and first, as opposed to telling the whole story.
Take for example the police brutality issues that have occurred all summer. For quite a handful of these cases, the video of police violence is shown right away on the news, causing an uproar and surging the nation into civil rights protests.
Then, weeks later, the entire body cam footage is released and you see the victims’ earlier interaction with police, usually how they were resisting arrest, or being violent towards the police. But at that point, it’s too late, and protests and riots are already happening everywhere.
The Opinion Issue
The Harvard Business Journal mentions former political scientist’s Paul Weaver’s thesis that journalism is in a culture of lying, which is “the discourse and behavior of officials seeking to enlist the powers of journalism in support of their goals.” Basically, the government and journalism are intertwined to push through agendas, which is dangerous to the public.
The news’ job is to inform the public. It’s a reporter’s job to give viewers the news, and it’s the viewers’s job to make their own opinion about that news. But all too often, we see reporters spouting off their–sometimes uneducated–opinions, and the public perceives that as truth.
For example, back in June, CNN’s Chris Cuomo said on national TV, “Please, show me where it says that protests are supposed to be polite and peaceful.” When in fact, that’s stated in the first amendment. However, people hear this and agree, and begin to think violent protests are okay
Also in June, Fox News’ Doug McKelway said on national TV that democrats are “unlikely to budge” on the border wall in the upcoming election. Which at that point, the border wall was already funded and had over 200 miles built. But instead, people hear McKelway and believe that the wall isn’t being built.
How to Not Fall for Fake News
As viewers, the public needs to realize that they shouldn’t believe everything they’re told. They now need to take it upon themselves to find accurate sources.
Unreliable Sources:
Reliable Sources:
- Duck Duck Go (a non-biased, non-tracking search engine)
- Associated Press News
- The Real News Network
In The Social Dilemma, Harris and others–such as the former director of monetization at Facebook, the founder of virtual reality and data scientists–give tips for not being reeled into fake news.
These include following accounts with opposing beliefs, so you can see the other side’s argument and not be blinded by your own. They also suggest turning off notifications for apps and checking sources.
When looking for news, IFLA.org says to check the site’s mission, do a quick search on the author, read beyond headlines and many others.
The Future of Journalism
I believe journalism is going in the direction to be mistrusted completely by the public. More and more people are realizing everyday that fake news spreads, and they’re tired of it. Heck, I’m a journalism major and I’ve deleted social media and stopped watching the news this year simply because it infuriates me.
Experts, however, believe that journalism is in an optimistic place. Those from The Social Dilemma are all aware of the issue and trying to make changes through court decisions and new, humane technology.
Journalism.co.uk also believes that enough experts are aware that change needs to be made. On top of this, they believe the media will grow with augmented reality and virtual reality. The field is also going to become even more diverse as millennials become employed.
