If you’re reading this article, chances are that I don’t need to tell you this — but in case it bears repeating: you should always be making an effort to get your news from more than one place.
A great deal of people think they’re informed because all the world’s information is at the tips of their fingers. They say they get their news from TikTok or Instagram, but what does that really mean? The standard and scope for news differs from person to person. They might stop scrolling to read a blurb of text accompanying an image, or to watch a short video… And then, typically, the impression ends, and they scroll away, move on and see a hundred other posts that pull their attention elsewhere.
Trust me, I’ve had to make a conscious effort to keep myself from falling into that trap, too. Keeping yourself knowledgeable when it comes to news should always mean more than merely reading the few news posts that pop up in your feed.
That’s not to say, though, that I don’t think social media has its merits. It would be naïve to say that it hasn’t completely changed the way that the world approaches news. When someone witnesses something newsworthy, their first instinct is often to post about it. The distribution of news on social media allows for a broader scope of topics to reach the public. A video’s virality can create the opportunity for community, can allow for issues to reach the eyes of people who can offer advice or catch the attention of larger platforms.
I have found it increasingly obvious that it’s quite a delicate balance. Algorithms allow for you to see news about things you care about — of course, they’re tailored to do so — but they also create the potential for echo chambers, feedback loops and extremism. Depending on which outlet’s version of a story makes its way to your feed first, you might find yourself with a completely different impression of events simply based on what reporter worked on it or what sources they used.
Not to mention, doomscrolling is called as much for a reason. The worst stories have a tendency to be repeated and sensationalized until they’re widespread. When you find yourself consuming solely that content, it’s harmful.
For better or for worse, social media has revolutionized news.
So, look at the newspaper. Scroll social media. Watch the nightly news when you’re back home. Find articles from news sources you trust and read them. But make a conscious effort to understand your world and what’s going on in it — don’t find yourself only consuming the news that falls in front of you.
Staff Reporter
