We live in an age where opinions run rampant. We’ve put the “media” in “immediate” - every situation that receives public coverage is subject to criticism and judgment from all sides, in comments that are typed out in minutes and published in nanoseconds. Unchecked, unedited, and sometimes unfounded, these opinions are presented as factual pieces of information by people who most likely have nothing to do with the actual situation.

Now, opinions are great. They’re the result of free will, free thinking, and the freedom of speech - all of which make up the foundations of some basic rights. Done right, opinions should inspire debates, discussions, critical thinking, perspective shifts, and maybe even an occasional change of mindset.

But an uneducated opinion can do none of these. An opinion based on headlines, fueled by the mindset of peers, formed out of pure emotion and supported by biased sources is at best useless and, at worst, dangerous.

Fear not! If you have exhibited some or all of the symptoms listed above, your condition can be cured! Your prescription comes in three simple words:

Educate. Yo. Self.

It’s not as fun as treating yo self, but it’s more rewarding (and probably healthier).

The term “education” may bring up eye-rolling-inducing thoughts of textbooks and classrooms and homework, but those are simply a means to an end. In its purest sense, educating is about gaining. Growing. Expanding. Opening up new possibilities. Being educated on a subject means being informed about the causes and effects of all sides, not just the one you like best.

The fact of the matter is, there will always be someone with a completely opposite opinion from yours. By someone, I mean a lot of people. They probably feel just as strongly about their opinion as you do about yours, and they will want to defend it.

You think Donald Trump is a racist misogynist? OK, fine - why? What have you heard him say, seen him do, that has made you come to that conclusion? What has he personally said about women and immigrants, and in what context?

You think Hillary Clinton is a liar? OK, fine - a liar about what? How exactly has she been untruthful? What happened in the Benghazi scandal? What is the big deal about those emails?

The list can go on and on. Bernie Sanders, Brock Turner, Brexit, Oscar Pistorius, gun control, parenting… these are just a few of the most relevant hot-button topics that have been gracing our news feeds. You’ve heard reactions to these topics and have probably reacted in some way yourself. But do you know what they are? What happened? What’s currently happening? What’s being done about it? What’s the other side?

For all the slack the internet gets from older generations, it actually does this thing where information, articles, videos, and news sources are available literally at our fingertips. If you are reading this post, you have the means to educate yourself.

Now, you don’t have to sit down with the intention of becoming an expert in economics, criminal justice, or politics. That doesn’t just happen overnight.

But you can at least take it on yourself to become a little more informed about some of the most important topics in our society today. So, stop skimming headlines and getting all your news from Facebook comments. Read a news article from a reputable, legitimate source! (Actually, read two or three from multiple reputable legitimate sources, because they have their biases too.) Speak to people with different opinions and find out what their side is! Learn how to defend your position while keeping an open mind about new information!

Knowledge is power. Education is empowerment.

Empower Yo Self.