Let’s face it. For the most part, teenagers get a pretty bad reputation. From constantly filming TikToks to following crazy trends, we have a lot of information to entertain ourselves, and a lot of information to mislead ourselves.
That said, can we really trust the accuracy and reliability of the information we see on social media?
According to a 2019 survey from Common Sense Media, nearly 80% of teenagers say it’s important to keep up with current events. However, most are likely to turn to social media apps, like Instagram and TikTok, instead of heading over to reputable news websites.
And what’s alarming is that social media enables anyone or anything, including AI bots, to get online and disseminate whatever information they want. And unlike high school students who go through multiple fact-checking standards when writing a piece, most people on social media have no filters whatsoever to keep them from saying false and misleading information. This is why I think it’s time to sound the alarm about teens’ overreliance on social media as their news source.
OK, since we’ve gone over all the doom and gloom: what exactly can we do to face this problem, and is there really any hope?
Well, according to a March 2023 survey conducted in the United Kingdom, half of teens ages 12 to 15 said that they typically fact-check social media sites or apps by looking at the comments or finding out what people had said about the story.
While this method could still be inaccurate when looking to fact-check information, it’s still a step in the right direction.
Teenagers nowadays should be looking at ways to ensure that the information they’re getting— especially from social media—is accurate.
In today’s digital world, young people need to know how to keep themselves safe and with the right tools and guidance. I am sure that our generation will eventually learn to keep themselves safe in this new digital world and discover that there is always more than what meets the eye.
Christelle Moïse is a junior at Belmont High School with a passion for reading mysteries, ice skating, and listening to music. When she’s not focused on schoolwork or volunteering in her community, she channels her creativity into writing about teen mental health and pop culture. With a strong commitment to using her voice for good, Christelle strives to raise awareness of important issues and shed light on often overlooked perspectives.