Nowadays, people turn to social media for everything from makeup and hair tips to getting their news. However, a new United Nations study highlights why influencers shouldn’t influence what we think too much.
According to a new Pew Research Center poll, 1 in 5 Americans say they get their news from social media influencers. Meanwhile, the U.N. survey found that 2 out of 3 digital content creators say they do not verify information’s accuracy before sharing it.
🔴 BREAKING
— UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳 (@UNESCO) November 26, 2024
At a time when digital content creators have become a major source of information for people, a @UNESCO survey published today reveals that 62% do not carry out rigorous and systematic fact-checking of information prior to sharing it. But 73% express the wish to be… pic.twitter.com/YYQhzA55TZ
About a third of influencers said they’d share content without checking if it came from a source or creator they trust. Four out of 10 said they use popularity to judge the credibility of online sources.
The survey found only 1 in 5 used documentation or evidence to determine credibility.
The U.N.’s report said online influencers need “urgent” help checking their facts before they pass them on to followers to help stop the spread of mis- and disinformation.
To help, UNESCO partnered with the University of Texas’ Knight Center for Journalism to offer a free online course on “how to be a trusted voice online.” The month-long course includes lessons on fact-checking and creating content about elections or crises.
UNESCO said 9,000 influencers have already registered for the course.
