Battling the Misinformation Overload in America

Social media, in all of its unrestrained and omnipresent glory, has allowed every individual access to all information available in the digital and physical world. From health remedies to non-prescription drugs, if one can think of it, they can find it, without question. Unfortunately, this overabundance of data is directly correlated to the creation and dissemination of falsehoods. The unlimited accessibility of social media to the vast public and its potential as a tool of large-scale manipulation presents the modern world with extraordinary challenges. Misinformation, fake news, clickbait articles, spam, sensationalism, and a thousand different uninformed opinions have become as much of a pandemic in today’s day as the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

We have the world in the palm of our hands but so much of it has become convoluted that distinguishing reality from fiction gets more and more difficult with each passing day. This is especially harmful considering the circumstances we are in, where misinformation can easily lead to severe health and mental decline. In the midst of a worldwide pandemic, we cannot afford misinformation about safety measures, vaccines, health regulations and developments in research about Covid-19.

In the era of constant digital communication, the flow of information is seamless. Decisions can be made in a split second, when required, without need for a second opinion. For a world that relies so heavily on constant access to everything and anything, manipulation of information can lead to some damaging consequences. From drinking bleach in order to avoid Covid to questioning the results of an election, a simple tweet or statement can be blown out of proportion, simply because everyone has access to it without any kind of filtration.

As more American adults sit up and pay attention to the political state of the country, they are overwhelmed with lack of factual insight about issues that concern them directly. Media outlets churn out propagandas that allow people to feed their prejudices with published data and even influence others. During tumultuous times, people expect to be able to turn to their government and officials for the right information and a plan of action, but the past few year’s events have proved how unfounded that trust is when the government itself is the hub of propaganda.

A study published by the Pew Research Center in 2020, states that 64% of Americans believed that the negative impact of social media is directly responsible for the state of affairs in the country during the pandemic. Due to a vast majority of the population believing everything they see and read on the internet without thorough research; misinformation, partisanship, and polarization are rampant. The same research center also published a survey that states that legal voters in America have observed their trusted news sources blatantly favouring one side of a particular issue and showcasing inaccurate and incomplete information to support their views. “More than half (56%) say their news sources have published breaking information before it was fully verified, and 37% say their sources have reported made-up news that is intended to mislead,” (Pew Research Center, 2020).

World history is not bereft of this mass manipulation either. Whether it is racism, genocide or just unfounded bias, time and time again we can observe how the media of that particular time exploited public opinion to their favour. It is not exaggeration that one of Nazi Germany’s most powerful man was their propaganda minister — Joseph Goebbels.

There is a present and urgent need for a reliable source of information, free from polarization and bias. A source that fulfills the original intention behind mass media outlets of providing the public with factual information about current events which they can use to navigate the political landscape. To facilitate this reliability, you can look towards a brand-new media platform — Etha, which is wholeheartedly focused on providing the public with the truth, regardless of their comfort zones.

Stay up to date on the latest Etha updates and download the app on Apple or Android devices to experience the beginning of the future.

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