How do we know what is true? How do we become better consumers of information?
When we watch TV or listen to the radio, we usually know the “bias” of our source. If we get most of our information from just a couple of sources, this can lead to confirmation bias, where we hear a narrow range of voices that confirm what we already believe is true.
In this way we do not get exposed to other perspectives. If we hear the same thing over and over, we think it must be true and this leads to the consistency we crave.
We all like consistency in our lives. We like to know that the car will start or that the internet will be up or that the ones we love will be there.
Instead of being like TV or radio, where we choose our source of information, social media such as Facebook, You Tube, Twitter, Instagram, etc. is like the “wild west,” with few rules and many unknown sources of information.
These unknown sources of information or misinformation infiltrate our social media in a way that amplifies their messages through automation and micro targeting. Micro targeting is an artificial intelligence approach that can target small groups that may be susceptible to certain arguments. Micro targeting is also a way to avoid a more stringent wider audience that might challenge the information’s veracity.
At the same time, the social media is undermining other sources of information and narrowing access to truthful information. Our willingness to share content without determining its veracity can be a form of lying, lazy lying. Lazy lying occurs when we pass on false information.
We must each take responsibility for what we share and avoid being a lazy liar. We must stop and exercise our emotional skepticism and make the effort to evaluate the information, including its source. It helps to ask ourselves: Do I want to believe it? What do I gain by believing it? What do I give up by not believing it?
We used to have leaders, or institutions, or news sources, that were universally trusted. That time has passed, and we can no longer afford to be compliant and complacent consumers of information. We must exercise the responsibility to ourselves and our society at large, to discover what is true.
David Hart
David Hart, Torrey, is a former physics teacher at Skyline High School and former junior high counselor. He has degrees in physics, education and social work. He now is retired and lives near Capital Reef National Park.