We all have a part to play
I want to live in a world filled with optimism and hope. I believe people are fundamentally good. Most people strive to be fair, honest, and compassionate. Most of us want to live and let live. But bad actors exist across all ideologies. In our hyper-connected world, they have become the loudest voices in the room. While the decent and quiet majority goes about life unnoticed, the worst among us hijack our attention, exploit media, and trigger outrage. As a result, we end up noticing them more than each other. That imbalance is shaping our understanding of the world in a negative way.
If we do not push back against the spread of misinformation and lies, we risk building a distorted view of reality. This erosion of truth is not just an internet problem. It threatens civil society, democracy, and our ability to find common ground.
While some of what I’m saying might appear to be aimed at Trumpism, my intention isn’t to pick on any one movement or ideology. The spread of misinformation is a challenge we all face, regardless of political affiliation or personal beliefs. Seeking the truth and working to stop the spread of falsehoods is a responsibility we all share. It doesn’t matter what your political party, ideology, sexual orientation, race, or belief system is, we are all better off when we operate from a foundation of truth. And not just selective or convenient truth, but the full picture, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
We Can Make a Difference
I still believe one person can make a difference. You can. I can. We all can, if we choose to be responsible stewards of information. One of the most urgent fronts in this fight is social media, especially platforms like Facebook, X, TikTok, and Instagram. Over the past few years, the amount of fake or misleading content has exploded. But this time, the problem is not just bad actors or dishonest media outlets. It is us.
We are the ones reposting what bad actors are pushing. That does not make us bad people, but it does mean we are unintentionally part of the problem. Reposting isn’t the problem. The problem is reposting without verifying whether the content is legitimate.
Fake News Is Not News
When people complain that the news is biased or slanted, they’re often making a category error. They’re treating what they’re seeing as news, when much of it is show-business dressed up as journalism. Many channels, websites, and talk shows are not designed to inform; they are designed to capture attention. Their true currency is not truth but engagement, and their value depends entirely on how effectively that engagement can be monetized.
Once you understand this dynamic, the comparison becomes clear. These platforms often operate like supermarket tabloids. No one accuses the National Enquirer of spreading “fake news” because its intent is obvious. It trades in drama, gossip, and sensational headlines, not serious reporting. More and more, the same can be said of outlets that present themselves as news organizations while functioning primarily as entertainment. What separates them is not journalistic integrity but how convincingly they wear its appearance.
This shift is especially insidious in areas like politics, economics, and world events, topics that were once treated with more care. Instead of reporting facts objectively, many outlets now craft narratives, assign roles, and manufacture drama. Heroes, villains, and victims are assigned rather than uncovered. The goal is not to inform but to stir emotion, fuel outrage, and strengthen tribal loyalty.
Understanding this profit-driven model is key to understanding what much of today’s “news” has become. It is content engineered to capture attention, using the appearance of journalism to drive ratings, clicks, and division. The answer is not to stop consuming media, but to do so with awareness. Approach it the same way you would any other entertainment, watch if you want, but don’t mistake it for truth, and always double-check what it presents as fact.
The Real Challenge
This isn’t about censorship or silencing opinions we disagree with. The real challenge lies in doing something far more difficult: questioning the posts we agree with before we share them.
It’s human nature to trust information that aligns with our beliefs. When we want something to be true, we’re far more likely to accept it without question. That’s confirmation bias, a well-documented cognitive shortcut that shapes how we seek out, interpret, and remember information. It reinforces what we already believe and filters out anything that contradicts it, often without us even realizing it.
This bias is subtle but powerful. It can quietly weaken our ability to think objectively, especially in emotionally charged or ideologically divided spaces. Recognizing it is the first step to resisting it, and preserving our intellectual honesty.
No one is immune. No political party, ideology, or community holds a monopoly on truth. But each of us can take responsibility for being a more careful steward of the information we pass along.
Instead of scrutinizing the posts shared by those we oppose, we should turn our scrutiny inward. When we challenge misleading content within our own circle, we will do more to combat misinformation than we will arguing with strangers online. That’s where change starts: not by correcting others, but by raising the standard in our own communities.
If someone you respect shares something misleading, don’t look the other way. A thoughtful question or a well-supported clarification can go a long way. In a climate of mutual respect, those moments carry real influence, and they help build a culture grounded in truth, integrity, and accountability.
So I will reiterate, this isn’t about attacking others. It’s about holding ourselves to a higher standard. Human nature makes it easy to trust information that confirms our existing beliefs. Unfortunately, that is also when we are most likely to spread misinformation.
You are the Gatekeeper
Before clicking “share,” pause and ask a few basic questions.
- Is this post accurate?
- Does it tell the whole story?
- Was it written in good faith?
- What is its intention?
Take a moment and be critical of the content before you share it. Use Google, ChatGPT, Copilot, or a trusted source to double check it. Better yet, ask someone who holds a different opinion. A good skeptic is often the best tool for identifying weak claims and highlighting biases.
When Truth Is Used to Deceive
Not all misinformation is a flat-out lie. Sometimes the facts are correct, but they are used in a way that is misleading. Let’s look at an example. Consider a one-line post that simply states:
“Drinking coffee decreases your risk of contracting polio by 90 percent.”
Let’s assume that this is technically true. But your odds of getting polio are already less than getting struck by lightning, and the study only applies if you drink a gallon of coffee a day. If that’s the case, then yes, the statement is accurate, but it is not useful or honest. It gives the impression that drinking coffee can prevent a serious illness, which is misleading.
Posts like this are designed to persuade, not to inform. They might begin with someone who misunderstood the facts, or they might be created with the intent to deceive. In many cases, someone down the line stands to gain, whether through attention, influence, or profit.
If you want to support a cause, provide facts with integrity and honesty. Follow the guidance of giving “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”. And if the truth challenges your beliefs, then be open to changing your mind.
Avoid Sharing Content That Divides
Some posts are not about facts or opinions at all. They are designed to irritate or provoke. These are often one-liner posts that insult or inflame rather than educate.
For example:
“If defining a man and a woman is hard, I’m guessing international trade policies are out of your league too.”
Or:
“After what they did on January 6th, I honestly couldn’t care less how many Teslas go up in flames.”
I found both examples in just a few minutes of scrolling through my Facebook feed. Posts like these have become commonplace. The type of statements I’m calling out serve no constructive purpose. They do not inform. They do not persuade. They attack and they make it harder for people to have constructive conversations. They increase division and resentment and make honest dialogue harder.
We have a Civic Duty
Misinformation is not harmless. It has fueled violence, influenced elections, undermined public health efforts, and broken friendships and families. The consequences are real.
Social media algorithms are purposefully designed to reward engagement, not accuracy. Content that triggers strong reactions get amplified, regardless of whether it’s true. That puts even more pressure on us to be responsible curators of what we pass along.
If we want a more honest information environment, we need to watch out for:
- Posts that contain false, inaccurate, or outdated information
- Posts that are technically true but presented in a misleading or deceptive way
- Posts designed to provoke anger, stir outrage, or insult others instead of informing or encouraging thoughtful discussion
- Posts that are crafted primarily to advance a specific agenda without transparency or balance
- Posts that promote division by framing issues as “us versus them” rather than encouraging understanding and cooperation
In a democracy, every citizen plays a role in shaping public understanding. Sharing information online is not just a personal act. It’s a civic one.
We Can Do Better
History shows us that bad information leads to bad decisions. We cannot afford to ignore that lesson. But we can reverse the trend if we slow down, ask questions, and choose integrity over tribal loyalty. Every time you share something, you contribute to the collective understanding of the world. That gives each of us a real responsibility to stop the spread of dishonest or harmful material.
I am picking on social media because that is where I see the problem every day. But the issue is not confined to social platforms. Misinformation is everywhere, in conversations, news cycles, and public discourse. Wherever it appears, we should avoid giving it our validation if it fails to meet a standard of truth and honesty. Misinformation does not stay online. It shapes how people vote, how they understand science, and how they treat one another in everyday life. The stakes are high, and what we choose to share matters.
I strongly believe in freedom of speech and the right to express differing opinions. This is not about silencing voices or canceling viewpoints. It is about raising the standard for how we communicate and engage with one another. Let’s commit to a higher standard. Only share what is accurate, complete, honest, and respectful. If a post cannot meet that standard, let it die in your feed instead of spreading it further. A picture of some puppies might do more to make the world a better place than another angry post. If we want to live in a world of optimism and hope, it’s up to us. It starts with what we choose to amplify, and what we choose to let go.