Reliable News

It turns out young adults (think under 30) are getting their news fix from social media just as much as traditional news channels. That means they are trusting what they see on Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube almost as much as what they hear from the big news outlets.

Pew Research Center found that half of 18- to 29-year-olds in the United States say they have some or a lot of trust in the information they get from social media sites, just under the 56% who say the same about information from national news organizations, but somewhat below the 62% who say so about information from local news organizations.

Social media is it a good source of media?

Social media can be a great way to stay informed on current events. You can follow your favorite news sources and see what your friends are talking about. But, on the other hand, there’s also a lot of false information floating around online. So, is this a good thing or a bad thing? Well, It’s kind of a mixed bag. It’s good that young adults are interested in the news, but it’s also important to be critical of what you see online.

Don’t just believe everything you read at first glance! Maybe this is a good chance to chat with younger folks about how to spot reliable sources online. When in doubt, check out a couple of these fact checking sites online. Politifact is a Pulitzer Prize-winning website, run by the Tampa Bay Times, focuses on verifying or debunking claims made by politicians and public figures.expand_more They use a “Truth-O-Meter” system to rate the accuracy of statements. FactCheck.org is a non-profit organization, affiliated with the Annenberg Public Policy Center, investigates a wide range of claims across various topics. They provide detailed explanations of their research process and source their information transparently. Snopes is a well-established website known for tackling urban legends and internet myths, Snopes also delves into contemporary issues and fact-checks various claims. The Washington Post Fact Checker is a dedicated section within the Washington Post newspaper that specifically fact-checks political statements.

No single fact-checking website is infallible. By combining information from various reliable sources and exercising critical thinking, you can develop a strong foundation for evaluating information encountered online. It’s always a good idea to double-check information before sharing it.

Who should I trust.

Local news outlets are the most trusted among all age groups, but trust in these outlets among Americans overall is at its lowest point in recent years. While a large majority of Americans (71%) have some or a lot of trust in the information they get from local news outlets, this is down from a high of 85% in both 2019 and 2017. This decline has occurred across many demographic groups and in both political parties.