Running

Head: Sharing is Not Caring 1

WARNING! EDINA STUDENTS

Proposed Law Takes Away Teens
Phone Rights!
By Danielle K. Karasov

TruthFinders.com
May 31, 2017- A new law was
proposed on Friday by democrats in
the MN Senate which allows cell phone
companies to restrict usage to teens
while moving in a vehicle. Supposedly,
it is intended to prevent distracted
driving. The technology uses social
media accounts to ping your phone.
Figure 1. Teenager distracted driving (Fisher, 2017) Even the passenger will be locked out
from their phone if they are within the age parameters (13-25 years old). The effectiveness of
this potential new law will enter a testing phase which will be conducted in Edina. So, if you are
a teenager from Edina, get ready to lose your rights and privacy! If you are as sick as the rest of
us about this attack on our liberty, then you must stand up and fight for your rights! For too
long the democrats have been trying to squash our freedoms and this new law has given them
the ammo they need! We need to get as many people aware as we can to prevent this attack
on our privacy and violation of our rights! Even President Trump was disgusted when he heard
of this. He is encouraging teens not just here in Minnesota, but all over the country to pressure
our representatives to appeal. The testing is set to begin in late-August. These Democrats will
take everything from us if we keep allowing this. If you enjoy the rights you have, you need to
protect them. This is an all-out war. They couldnt accept President Trump, they cant respect
our rights, and they think they can control us and monitor us now? Enough is enough. Make
sure to share this horrific new information with people so we can stand strong against them!

-Like our outlet page to keep receiving up to date information.

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WAIT, HOLD ON A SECOND

After reading the article above, you must be thinking either this is the worst news ever

or that this is the most ridiculous news ever. But what the most important thing to ask yourself

is if its real. Luckily, I can tell you that its not. This was just one example of fake news. There

are literally thousands of other stories. How can you tell which stories are fake and which are

authentic? And we hear about fake news stories all the time. How do these stories become so

popular? Do opinions change when information is corrected? How does social media play a role

in whether a story goes viral? Did inaccurate news stories really affect peoples perception of

the candidates and in turn affect the election outcome? I plan to shine a light onto how biased,

non-credible, manipulative news stories shared on social media can affect political opinions,

actions and beliefs.

Social Medias Rise to Power

I know you may not remember the days of Facebook past, but I sure do. I remember

when Facebook was a brand-new concept;

we all thought it was revolutionary. A

significant improvement upon the already

popular Myspace. Initially though,

Facebook was not available to everyone. It

was meant for students at colleges to be

able to interact with their peers. Accounts

were given only to students using their school Figure 2. This chart shows the increased use of mobile
devices for news consumption between 2013 to 2017
e-mail, or by receiving an invitation from a (Barthel & Mitchell, 2017, p. 16)
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user. Once I received an invite, I saw Facebook grow exponentially (especially once it became

available to everyone) to the extent that it is now: millions of users and counting! The release of

the smartphone some years later, only boosted the number of users by allowing access through

a Facebook app. Joshua Benton, author of The Year of meDIa failure (2016), illustrated

Facebooks significance by stating, for all its wonders- reaching nearly 2 billion people

each month, driving more traffic and attention to news than anything else on earth- its also

become a single point of failure for civic information (13). Thats right, it has become a

monumental aspect of our lives, and therefore, a major source of news. However, it has also

unfortunately and very commonly exposed us to incorrect news.

Since I Read It Online, It Must Be True

While social media platforms continue to pop up such as Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat,

and the like, we are provided with a sense of community and more interaction with even more

people. It provides us with a wealth of information, all in one place. Incorporating news access

into Facebook allowed more people access to news. Despite all the benefits of the growth of

social media, there are some very concerning negative effects. The increase in social media use

has directly brought about the rise of news availability, which is not necessarily bad. In fact,

according to a study conducted by Pew Research Center, in total, 85[%] percent of

Americans now get news on their mobile devices 65[%] percent prefer

consuming it [news] on their mobile devices (Barthel & Mitchell, 2017). This is an
increase from 2016, where only 56% of people reported preference to view news on mobile
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devices (Barthel & Mitchell, 2017). While the numbers of users increase, according to a study

from Media Insight Project, just 17[%] percent of Americans said they found the

news media in general to be very accurate (Wang, 2017). When asked about their
specific news outlet choice, that number doubled to 34[%] percent (Wang, 2017). It is

important to see the correlation between the rise in numbers of social media users and the

decrease in confidence in the news medias accuracy. This is representative of the effect social

media has on the formation of political opinions and beliefs based on what Americans believe

to be a pretty questionable news media presence.

Figure 3. This chart shows how study participants viewed the accuracy of the news media as a whole and
the news media of their preference (My media versus The media, 2017, p. 5)

Social media has also impacted our psychological thought processes and the ability to

retain information. Many times, stories are shared because of the headline. It is important to

understand this in order to prevent yourself from falling victim to the fake news traps.

Referring to Twitter being an outlet for narcissists to post messages relating to themselves or

their thoughts, as Brian Ott described in his article, The Age of Twitter (2016), one study
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suggests that about 80% of the activity on Twitter falls in this category. The danger arises from

the other 20% when issues of social, cultural, and political import are filtered through the lens

of Twitter, for Twitter infects public discourse like a social cancer (60). This is caused because,

as Ott states, [Twitter] destroys dialog and deliberation, fosters farce and fanaticism,

and contributes to callousness and contempt (60). This rise in use causes mass numbers of

users to receive biased, inaccurate, and misleading news which causes us to form incomplete

and baseless political opinions, beliefs, and division.

Figure 4. This chart indicates factors which impact the perceived trustworthiness of news stories
(Barthel & Mitchell, 2017, p. 19)
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Because of a restricted character count on some sites such as Twitter, it becomes

difficult to relay any sort of news effectively. Additionally, we tend to overlook and undervalue

some news reports on Twitter. By withholding information (in a sense) due to character counts,

people are therefore presented news in ways that would produce impulsive, unfounded

first impressions of the story. If someone were to look deeper into the story, they would

most likely use one of the few words seem on the Tweet. Hillary Claims Trump Assaulted Her!

This is an example of a potential Tweet. It also will most likely be what a user searches for;

which will result in similar news reports.

Id Never Fall for Fake News!

Let me explain my reasoning for claiming that social medias increased use as a news

source causes an increased number of users to form influenced and unauthentic political

opinions and beliefs. The articles WikiLeaks confirms Hillary sold weapons to ISIS Then drops

another bombshell and Pope Francis shocks world, endorses Donald Trump for president are

just two examples of widespread fake news.

Hillary Article Trump Article

Originated from Political Insider Originated from Ending the Fed
FAKE NEWS! FAKE NEWS!
789,000 shares of the article 960,000 shares of the article
REAL NEWS! REAL NEWS!
Only 59,000 shares of fact- Only 33,000 shares of fact-
checked Snopes article checked Snopes article

Figure 5. Comparison of a fake news about each candidate and the extreme difference between shares on social
media (information obtained from Ritchie, 2016)
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The amount of times either of these stories was shared overwhelmingly dominated the

number of shares about the real story. Snopes, a website dedicated to fact-checking news

stories, addressed both of these examples to ensure we get the correct information. They are a

credible source to fact-check and usually provide ample amounts of information and sources to

corroborate the factual basis.

How Does Fake News Affect Me?

We may not always realize the importance of accurate news, especially when we live in

a world where fake news is rampant. We have all come across stories that are easily

identifiable as fake. Sharing news stories that are non-credible, biased, and manipulative not

only harms your image and reputation, but it also can lead to making uninformed decisions

about politics and your stance. The fake stories are designed to play on the readers emotions

to generate popularity. Leticia Bode and Emily Vraga described social medias role in spreading

fake stories by saying, the dangers of misinformation are not limited to new and emerging

issues. Social media may also provide an opportunity to reinforce existing misinformation on

public debates that have widely agreed upon answers by the scientific community, which

dissonance research has shown to be essential in maintaining misperceptions or beliefs outside

of the mainstream (619). The rise in social media usage as a news source has increased

drastically since recent years. We have all seen and felt the political tensions increase as the

threat of fake news rises. We now stand more divided than ever, thanks in large part to the

identification of fake news. It puts pressure on us. We now live in a world where our emotions,
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and not our logic, determines whether a story is worth sharing. Laying out the reasons fake

news is so detrimental. Solomon Messing and Sean J. Westwood (2014) write, not only

does the fragmentation of the media environment limit the diversity of

information available to citizens, it also polarizes individual-level attitudes,

increases ideological homogeneity [beliefs that are like your own] among

party member, perpetuates the support of falsehood, and alters the way

consumer of partisan news sources react to threats (1043). The presence of

misleading, fake, or biased news became increasingly evident during the 2016 Presidential

election, and has since

grown to alarming

proportions. As noted in

the article Fake News on

Social Media, pundits,

journalists, and

policymakers

questioned whether the

Figure 6. This graph represents how few people (only 4 in 10) recognize that
news shared by friends and family is not equally representative to both
political sides (Barthel & Mitchell, 2017, p. 18) heightened volume of

fake news stories being

shared on social media played a significant role in swaying popular opinion on Hillary Clinton,

the Democratic candidate, and Donald Trump, the Republican candidate and winner of the

election (Fake News on Social Media, 2017).

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No Harm, No Foul, Right?

Wrong! We know that neither of the two examples I provided earlier (popular Hillary

and Trump fake stories) is true, but when they were first released, it consumed us. People let

these stories fuel anger and frustration towards each other. Let me remind you that one of the

fake stories, Hillarys alleged Pizzagate operation, where she was (falsely) reported to have

sold weapons to ISIS, lead to a shooting at Comet, the pizza place in question. It took
someone seriously believing in a rumor or speculation from a news source to go that far in the

name of justice. Anyone on social media can access news stories and let their emotional

response effect their actions. In most cases, people allow their emotions to affect their beliefs

about issues and candidates and dont take action to seek justice; however, there is the

possibility that someone will resort to violence. The shooter wasnt the only one that fell for the

fake news propaganda. He was taken advantage of by the news circulated on social media, just

as almost all of us have at one point or another. In fact, Even Osnos, writer for The New York

Times, stated that

following the

election, the fear

that the results

were influenced by

the popularity of

fake articles was a

Figure 8. Graph showing the timeline of how drastically fake news spread on
Facebook compared to mainstream news (Silverman, 2016)
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concern for most Americans.

Shootings, misguided beliefs about politics, and the hysteria

surrounding unbelievable stories, are only the tip of the iceberg. As the

evidence proves, the impact of news accessed via social media, if false, causes people to

structure unjustifiable and inaccurate opinions, beliefs, and even, in some cases, actions.

Figure 7. This cartoon illustrates the problematic confusion and distrust

caused by fake news (Beeler, 2016)

What Does Social Media Have to Do with It?

How does Social Media impact the accessibility and circulation of fake news stories?

News I see on Facebook doesnt affect my political stance. Arent people just as prone to be

exposed to fake news on other news outlets like TV or a newspaper? There may be many

objections to my claim: simply put, social media effects an individuals political perceptions. No

other source even compares to the use of social media, plain and simple. The quantity of users

accessing social media sites is inevitably going to be expose them to more manipulative,
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inaccurate, and biased stories. And to those that believe social media doesnt impact their

beliefs or opinions, whether political or not, is mistaken. We form our opinions based on

interactions with peers, co-workers, friends, and family. Social media is a prime

location to connect. It also presents the possibility to see a fake news article

shared by a friend, and then decide that if she shared it, then it cant be fake. The large

numbers of users within social media networks have more access to news than ever before.

With laptops, tablets, and smartphones, an update is just one click away. Many of us have

experienced the phenomenon of fake news first hand, but may not have even realize it. When

scrolling through your news feed, news stories tend to be littered throughout. A majority are

authentic, but a handful are fake. On Twitter for example, Eric Trump tweeted about a story he

saw on social media. Only, the story was fake.

Figure 9. A tweet from Eric Trump about a news story which turned
out to be false. Eric Trumps tweet created a wider divide between
the two parties and angered people. That is easily preventable and
absolutely necessary to maintaining our personal credibility.
(Trump, 2016)
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Fake news isnt just on social media sites. It has appeared in a wide variety of other

sources. However, news has become increasingly popular on most social media sites and

continues to grow. Social media also allows people to both easily access news and share a

political news story. This makes it the most consolidated and effective one-stop shop. People,

especially during election season, pick a side and defend their champion, or candidate, at

whatever cost necessary. The desire to elevate their candidate and discredit the opponent

causes rationality to go out the door. In efforts to prove to friends and family why their

choice is the best and only choice, people share stories based on large, bold, captivating

headlines and unbelievable stories. The stories also play on the emotional responses of the

readers. The more intense the feelings about the story, the quicker and more frequently it is

shared. And so, it begins. This easy access coupled with the catchy headlines leads to negative

consequences and misguided emotions. Dont believe a story because you want it to be real;

checking the facts is vital, whether its a story from a large source like CNN or an unheard-of

source. Regardless of how news circulates, the accuracy and credibility of stories are crucial to

avoid reiterating false information.

Access to Fake News Via Social Media Effects Emotionally

Charged Political Opinions, Actions, and Beliefs

You may be wondering, how does one sort through the heaps of news stories accessible via

social media platforms? Determining the credibility and factuality of a source is vital to avoid

falling into the trap of propagating mistrust and confusion. Social media is readily available with

news amongst other things. Many of the stories are inaccurate, biased, or manipulative, yet
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somehow get more attention than credible, factual news articles. The environment created on

social media networks makes it all too easy to access fake news mistakenly. The impact this

causes skews or alters an individuals perception of politics, and sometimes it can lead to

violence as a means of seeking justice. Too many of us share articles without verifying its

accuracy. I have been guilty, as Im sure many of you have. To avoid the embarrassment of

being that guy (who shares a fake story) and potentially affecting another persons political

opinions and actions, dont share stories without checking their credibility. More importantly, a

good rule of thumb is to remember: if it sounds too unbelievable to

be true, it probably is, or it is at least worth looking

into. The repercussions for sharing fake news not only effect how you are viewed by

others, but the cohesiveness and productivity of our country. As we progress further towards a

technology based environment, more and more of us rely on social media to be our news

source. The access to fake stories on social media clearly effects an individuals political beliefs,

opinions, and actions.

Figure 10. Meme emphasizing the abundance of inaccurate

information on the internet
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References

Beeler, N. (2016, November 23). Real news vs. fake news. Retrieved from

http://host.madison.com/wsj/opinion/cartoon/real-news-and-fake-news-hard-to-distinguish-in-

nate/article_bb8475ac-7207-5396-a154-a5d8bb68df48.html

Bode, L., & Vraga, E. K. (2015). In related news, that was wrong: The correction of misinformation

through related stories functionality in social media. Journal of Communication, 65, 619-638.

DOI: 10.1111/jcom.12166

Barthel M., & Mitchell A. (2017, May 10). Americans attitudes about the news media deeply divided

along partisan lines. Pew Research Center. Retreived from

http://www.journalism.org/2017/05/10/americans-attitudes-about-the-news-media-deeply-

divided-along-partisan-lines/

Benton, J. (2016, November/December). The Year OF meDIa FaILure. Quill, 104(6), 12-16.

"Fake News on Social Media." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2017. Opposing Viewpoints

in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/OBOYIA996440220/OVIC?u=asuniv&xid=856e4b75.

Fisher, H. (2017, February 13). Senate takes small step toward limiting teen drivers cell phone use.

Arizona Capitol Times. Retrieved from http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2017/02/13/senate-

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7.pdf
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Osnos, E. (2016). Closing gaps in the name of democracy. Nieman Reports, 70(4), 32-33. Retrieved from

http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=7eda3831-

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Ott, B. L. (2017). The age of Twitter: Donald J. Trump and the politics of debasement. Critical Studies in

Mass Communication, 34(1), 59-68. DOI: 10.1080/15295036.2016.1266686

Ritchie, H. (2016, December 30). Read all about it: The biggest fake news stories of 2016. CNBC.com.

Retrieved from http://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/30/read-all-about-it-the-biggest-fake-news-

stories-of-2016.html

Silverman, C. (2016, November 16). How viral fake election news stories outperformed real news on

Facebook. Buzzfeed. Retrieved from https://www.buzzfeed.com/craigsilverman/viral-fake-

election-news-outperformed-real-news-on-facebook?utm_term=.gxO11YX8V1#.gnJbbyQd2b

Wang, S. (2017, May 24). Americans dont really like the media much- Unless its their go-to news

outlets youre asking about. Nieman Labs. Nieman Foundation at Harvard. Retrieved from

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their-go-to-news-outlets-youre-asking-about/