EVERY DAY! I hear false narratives in the news and social media. These bytes are sometimes overwhelming, especially as somebody who gets to have more incite to certain topics than most of Americans who “claim” to have facts.

Let’s take a conversation I had recently with a close friend. He 100% believes that the recent presidential election was fixed.  

Now, before I get into this topic, I want to make it clear that I DO NOT believe this theory. Unfortunately, social media has played a major role in the spread of these false claims, and it has become increasingly difficult to identify what is true and what is false.

The accessibility of information has made it easier than ever to spread false claims, and many of these false claims have been picked up and run with by people who have no intention of verifying their accuracy. This leads to false claims being shared and repeated without any real scrutiny, making it hard for audiences to determine what is true and what is false.

The rise of social media has also allowed for the spread of varying opinions, which can make it difficult for audiences to determine what is true and what is false. With different opinions coming from different sources, it can be hard to determine which source is providing accurate information and which is not. This makes it difficult for audiences to separate the truth from the lies.

The false claim of a stolen elections is a perfect example of how hard it is to identify false claims in today’s social media environment. Despite the lack of evidence to support these claims, they have been widely shared and repeated on social media platforms.

When it comes to the conversation I had with my friend and other instances of what may or may not be reputable information I always try and employ the following five steps.

1. I research the source of the information.

2. I check for other sources.

3. I verify the facts.

4. If I don’t know I ask somebody who is better informed.

5. Use my best judgment.

Misinformation nowadays is hard to identify, It is therefore important to be aware of the sources of information you are relying on, and to verify any claims that you come across to ensure that you are getting accurate information.

I always try to check reputable sites like the one above to ensure that the information i consume and disseminate is factually accurate.

The consequences of believing in false information can be detrimental both to our own lives and to the lives of those around us. And although you may run into situations similar to my friend that i mentioned earlier, helping to correct or even challenge misinformation may help corse correct detrimental beliefs.

EVERY LITTLE BYTE OF CORRECT INFORMATION GOES A LONG WAY!