Why Don't People Fact Check?
Start writing a post
Student Life

Why Don't People Fact Check?

Social Media is a great place, but man does it contain some dumb people.

137
Why Don't People Fact Check?
snopes.com

Social media is such a cool thing. It has connected everyone with an internet connection to each other. It gives people the option to share ideas with like-minded people and get input on how to expand your mind and be a more well-rounded and intelligent person. Well, at least that’s half the story. In a place where very intelligent people can interact extensively very dumb people can also interact extensively. That is something I see put to work every day on Facebook. Let’s be real, we all know that one kid we knew in high school who just sits around sharing exclusively racist articles and tasty videos. So of course social media can be a forum for people to grow intellectually, but it is also widely a place for people to learn how to make slow cooker garlic steaks and talk about “reverse racism”. The point I’m getting at is that a lot of the lesser intelligent people (as subjective as that sounds) like to use social media for their political alignments. Now, yes there is an inherent danger in blindly following public figures, but there is something people do that can easily be avoided. It isn’t hard to fact check. Not at all. Especially with websites like Snopes that are literally dedicated to debunking internet rumors. There is absolutely no reason people should be avidly posting false information, especially this late in the election, where everything is sensitive.

For example a picture has been viral and I’ve seen it not only on Facebook, but on Twitter, and even Tumblr. The picture is of Donald Trump with his parents from what looks to be many years ago. Now this picture raised a lot of heat because…well…just look at what Trump’s parents are wearing.

This picture is insanely viral now and if Donny T’s parents really ran with the Klan it makes sense that people would share this picture nonstop…but the thing is it’s not real. One quick search on Snopes of “Trump parents kkk” will give you a fact check and tell you that it is a hoax and even includes the real picture.

This isn’t even a one sided thing, Hillary Clinton is feeling the brunt of false attacks too. This picture has gone viral in many different versions all with the same quote, which says that Hillary Clinton supposedly admitting to coercing a court decision to let a rapist go free.

This is a shocking quote and if it was real it should deter a lot of people from supporting Clinton…but spoiler alert: it’s fake. I googled the quote to see if this heinous thing was actually said and was led to politifacts’ “truth-o-meter” section which is yet another internet fact-checker, and in that section it had a whole article of viral Hillary quotes that aren’t real, one of which obviously being the aforementioned one.

This is a problem that shouldn’t be a problem. Voters should be educated on what is real and what isn’t and should not be spreading lies, especially when access to the truth is a browser tab and a 30 second google search away. Ignorant voters are the worst voters and I hope that everyone can start being smarter on social media, but I know that it can’t happen.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

14696
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

944811
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

121915
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lots of people sat on the cinema wearing 3D glasses
Pinterest

Ever wonder what your friend meant when they started babbling about you taking their stapler? Or how whenever you ask your friend for a favor they respond with "As You Wish?" Are you looking for new and creative ways to insult your friends?

Well, look no further. Here is a list of 70 of the most quotable movies of all time. Here you will find answers to your questions along with a multitude of other things such as; new insults for your friends, interesting characters, fantastic story lines, and of course quotes to log into your mind for future use.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments