Truth and Falsehood in Social Media

    After presenting our research on truth and falsehood in social media, I was left somewhat dissatisfied because we couldn’t fully conclude our thoughts and findings. While I was aware that social media algorithms influence the spread of misinformation, I did not understand the extent of this influence until seeing the MIT study. The fact that misinformation spreads six times faster than the truth and that falsehoods are 70 percent more likely to be retweeted on Twitter is extremely alarming, especially considering that this study was published in 2018. This not only affects our perceptions of reality and what we believe to be true, but it also affects human interaction and behavior more broadly.

    While this may sound like a bold claim, I believe the polarization and overall social climate today is evidence of this influence. During the last election, my TikTok feed was flooded with videos reflecting opinions across the political spectrum. There was misinformation on both sides, and it made me question the line between misinformation and disinformation. While someone spreading misinformation may not have bad intentions, when it influences a large audience and potentially an election, one could argue it becomes disinformation. This also raises a deeper question: how can we determine intent in the first place?

    While I don’t have a perfect answer, I believe the way we handle misinformation legally and ethically has to change. There must be some level of accountability for what is posted on the internet, especially if the information is false and has the potential to influence people on a massive scale. I am fearful of the current political climate in the United States today. I do not feel comfortable sharing the full extent of my opinions in public, and I avoid posting anything that reflects one side on social media. From a societal standpoint, I worry that the greater public is not as aware of the presence of misinformation and does not care as much to confirm and validate information as others do. If we do not address the problem on a social level, we will only continue to get more polarized.