We are sure we’re not the only news source you’ve run into today. In fact, you’ve probably ran into at least 50 of them just through an hour long doom scroll. But the important question to ask is: did you actually read any of them beyond the headline?

There is no doubt that there is a huge issue with news overload within our algorithms, so it’s understandable that you’re skimming the hundreds of headlines you see a day. But whether you realize it or not, your brain simply cannot handle the amount of information splayed out in front of you. Our generation, to put it simply, is overwhelmed. 

It’s come to a point where our generation is paralyzed by it all, making it difficult for us to even take a second to read an article in its entirety. It’s why our attention spans are so low, and why a majority of college students get their news from places like TikTok and X. The problem we run into when we’re referring to mainly social media for our news is that, well, just about anyone could claim themselves a “journalist” and perpetuate fake news. 

What does that lead to? That same fake news landing right onto your screen. 

Sometimes you can just tell when it’s fake though, right? We all know that @xyzunreliableaccount is not a reliable news source, and therefore you should pay that content no mind. But sometimes, these accounts can sneakily make themselves seem legit, and can confuse you into thinking this is something worth reading, thinking, and talking about. Which leads to it spreading even more, like a domino effect.

So if there’s such a mix of real and fake news, how are you supposed to know the difference? The answer is simple, and is probably something you already know: research. 

We hope you didn’t let out a groan reading that, because it’s the truth. Unfortunately us humans aren’t built in with fact-checking programs, so the simple act of double checking something via a quick google search is enough to aid in your understanding of the world around you. 

Here are five tips how to spot misinformation:

1. Check the source: Make sure that it is a reputable source/person that you can trust. 
2. Beware of clickbait headlines: If it seems fear mongering, exaggerated, or overly shocking, it might be misleading. 
3. Reverse image search: This Google tool is so helpful is identifying images that might be used out of context online. 
4. Analyze the writing: Are there typos? Grammar mistakes? Misspellings? Take those as big red flags. 
5. When in doubt, think before you share: It’s better to know that something is factual before becoming a part of the spread of misinformation.

For comments/questions about this story DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email opinion@gmail.com