According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, 28% of Americans were “constantly online” in 2019. That number has almost certainly grown in 2020 and has only been amplified by community lockdowns worldwide.
Social media has become more than just a place to share updates with friends and family or watch funny videos of cats and dogs. It has become a place to share reactions to current events and to fight about social issues.
Facebook is far and away the biggest social network in the world, with 2.7 billion active users in the second quarter of 2020. It is also the most profitable platform for peddlers of fake news and fake viral videos.
We all think we can spot false information from a mile away. But in an era of short attention spans and millions of dollars spent on content farming, no one is really immune to a striking headline or an intriguing video still.
Here are some simple ways to avoid being a victim to misinformation on social media:
Sometimes it’s not as easy as that. Maybe someone uploaded a picture meant to incite a reaction and it crosses your feed. More often than not, a quick Google search of even a vague description of a viral photo will lead to more details about it. When you are armed with more information, then you can decide if you want to spread it even further.
At the end of the day, we are responsible for what we pass on. Before clicking the share button, dig a little deeper – why do you want your friends and followers to see this? Will it contribute to the larger conversation? Will it help or inspire anyone who sees it?
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