As a naturally curious person, when I hear something that piques my interest, I usually turn to research to learn as much as I can about it.
I comb multiple sources online, pull out books, and talk to people who know more about it before forming an opinion.
If I hear information from someone, even if I trust them, I double-check what they said and hunt down more about the subject.
My college professor always had a saying that stuck with me, mainly because it made me laugh.
Robynne Henry The Henry Hype
He stressed the importance of double-checking everything, no matter who it came from, even if your mom tells you she loves you. He would say to find another source just to make sure it’s true.
It’s this thinking that has me pausing when I scroll through social media when I come across articles or photos my friends have shared that look 100 per cent fake, which usually don’t survive a simple Google search.
Multiple times, I’ve posted an article in the comments from a legitimate website saying it’s false or presenting untrue information.
Normally, I just keep scrolling.
There’s only so much yelling into the void that I have the energy for, and I realize not everyone scrutinizes everything like I do.
I take these posts with a grain of salt, because I know the internet is meant to be fun. If people believe the stories and photos they see, then it’s their choice.
It’s when people get offended that you leave a comment disagreeing or pointing out the falseness of what they shared is what annoys me, because they normally say something along the lines of ‘if you don’t like this, don’t look at it’ or ‘it’s my page, I can share what I like.’
If you post anything on social media, you’re leaving yourself open to receive comments from people because it’s a public forum.
Just like you did when you decided to share the fake article or photo, your followers can share what they think.
It’s a blessing and a curse of social media.
Information can be shared across the world, but whether or not it’s true is the important part.
Believing something because a social media page says so may not be the best idea, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.
My suggestion is always do your homework, and if something doesn’t sound right, then it probably isn’t. Find a trusted source, or five, and form your own opinion that way.
