Essay Sample on Dangers of Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool that is popular these days because of its convenient and accessible features. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. are allowing people to communicate with one another at long distances. Aside from this, we can also see the information and news instantly after it happens instead of waiting for the news to appear on television and radio. It is one of the fastest mediums which gives information before any other media. However, despite its benefits, social media are also considered dangerous. The rise of the false information or known as “fake news” are widely boost. March 2020, when the spread of COVID-19 caused our country to implement a lockdown, social media platforms became one of the sources of the news. Amidst this COVID-19 lockdown, some LGU posts on Facebook to update their citizens according to what the government’s protocol to their community. Still, fake news can’t be prevented. Some information is misleading that causes huge trouble. In research from Gomez (2021), fake news about vaccination spreading from social media causes traffic and protocol violations to the crowds. COVID-19 vaccine rollout alarms everyone, most people panicked because they want to be vaccinated immediately. Anyone may publish information on social media and possibly reach a big audience because it is a public platform. This makes it difficult especially to the public to identify which information was reliable. Fake news usually consists of two types such as misinformation and disinformation. Misinformation classifies as misleading content while disinformation created to deceive. Social media can also destroy one’s reputation by making such false story and by being biased and fabricated which opinions might skew the facts. The impact of false information can be a wider threat to everyone. It sometimes made to intentionally manipulate one’s perception. Since not all people have an excellent reading comprehension, the emerging risk of fake news affects every individual. Even stories that aren't wholly incorrect might be skewed by utilizing confusing headlines. People are more prone to share information without verifying its accuracy especially when the news is controversial. The person’s emotion can also influence the speed and volume of fake news spreading which makes it difficult to determine the real and factual information. Although social media leaks some false information, we can still access accurate information. The most effective way to avoid fake news is to make our own research and verify if the source is trusted. Checking the sources to know if it is made by an authorized author, page, or organization. It should be not affected by one’s views and perceptions. Always disregard opinions over facts. Report inappropriate and harmful post using a report option in any social media platform. Before liking, commenting, and sharing posts, think critically. Critical thinking is a great strategy to ensure that the information is reliable. Be the voice to raise awareness about the dangers of false information. The key to protect and help ourselves and our country is to always seek for the truth.