Since November 2016, we've been bombarded with headline after headline, touting how "fake news" ruined our trust in news, and even crippled our democracy. But what is the actual problem, and whose problem is it to solve?"Fake News" is really misinformation, or false information. (Yes, in some cases, people will decry news that they disagree with as "fake", but that's not our focus right now.) The issue with this misinformation is how quickly it propagates, exacerbated further by the viral nature of social media. Getting news via social mediaSocial media has gained popularity as the means of consuming news, more especially for younger demographics. This is a trend that has been steadily increasing.According to a 2016 Pew Research study, individuals in the 18-29 age group are more likely to get their news via social media than their older counterparts, and have migrated away from traditional news sources. However, the same study indicates those same individuals are less likely to share or otherwise engage in news that is available to them. We could reasonably deduce that a smaller group of individuals wields a great deal of control over what is then shared and consumed via social. Sharing costs nothing... or does it?Does engaging with content on social media cost us anything? It takes no time to like your friend's new page on Facebook, or a post from a non-profit you support. It costs nothing to tweet a hashtag, or share a funny cat video. So is there a cost to sharing a story?On the surface, no, it cost you nothing. But is there a greater cost or detriment to sharing bad information, especially at the viral scale of social media? Actually, yes - sharing fake news can cause real-world harm. It can even impact elections.Lack of trust in journalismPeople's trust in journalism is eroding, a trend that is further examined in both the 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer, and the Cision 2017 State of the Media white paper. In fact, while some news publications that are the "standard" in news, corrections must be issued regularly. But preventable mistakes are also made in haste, especially on divisive subjects or personalities. An interesting side effect of this degrading trust, is the ability for individuals to take their message and thoughts directly to the people, bypassing traditional media's ability to filter or interpret that message. Case in point: Donald Trump on Twitter. Another outcome, this time more concerning, is the rise of alternative media, replacing traditional journalistic rigor and integrity - things like BuzzFeed and Huffington Post - where the focus is viral content, clicks, and engagement. What is to be done?"Fake News" is not a problem just for modern day journalism to solve - it is an issue for all of us to tackle. So, here are three ways to help.#1 - Reward better journalismA news article should answer the questions who, what, when, where, why, and how. Everything but why is or should be straight-forward to describe clearly and objectively. Why can easily become subjective; it requires establishing facts that preceded a matter; it is a fine line to fairly describe. When you encounter stories, or journalists, that provide the facts of a situation, and fairly attempt to answer those critical questions, share what you have! Let others in your networks learn from what you've found. Drive traffic to their websites.If you find publications that consistently strive to be fair and accurate, consider purchasing a subscription, and support these journalists. For example, Pew Research compiled a list of news publishers, and their corresponding trust level. Sources like the Wall Street Journal are trusted across the political spectrum.Scruddle was designed to make sharing easy, as you find new articles you enjoy or find useful. The stories you share via Scruddle also help out journalists, by redirecting traffic back through the publisher's website to read the article there. #2 - Hold people accountable, with constructive engagementWhether it's your tinfoil hat childhood friend, your bitter uncle, or a coworker, people should be held accountable for proliferating poor reporting or false information. Now, this does not mean starting vehement, friendship-ending fights. It does mean refusing to share, or at least verifying a story before you choose to share it. Having news sources on the same subject, articles from trusted sources, can also be used when citing misinformation. Conversations should be constructive, and involve thoughtful discussion. #3 - Expand your point of viewThe bottom line here is this: You are a consumer of news, and a purveyor of information. It is your responsibility to be informed, thereby contributing useful and correct information to society. Unfortunately, most Americans that consume news tend to stick to the same sources. Buck that trend, and expand the news you turn to. Not only will it contribute to more thoughtful, civilized discussion, it may even open your eyes. Scruddle has a wide variety of news you can subscribe to within the website and app - not only local and regional news, but trusted national news. ConclusionFalse news, fake news, misinformation - this is nothing new, and will always be a problem. It is up to each of us, however, to be better about what we read and what we share. In doing so, we will all contribute to more productive dialog, and help bridge the divides between us all.
