Most social media influencers don’t check sources before sharing info: Report

Nov 27

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), Shea Taylor (Producer), Emma Stoltzfus (Producer/Video Editor)

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.

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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

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
— UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳 (@UNESCO) November 26, 2024

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.

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The survey found only 1 in 5 used documentation or evidence to determine credibility.

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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.

Tags: Digital Media, Disinformation, Journalism, Misinformation, Pew Research, Social Media, Texas, United Nations

IN THIS DAY AND AGE – PEOPLE TURN TO SOCIAL MEDIA FOR EVERYTHING FROM MAKEUP AND HAIR TIPS TO GETTING THEIR NEWS.

NOW, AN ALARMING NEW UNITED NATIONS STUDY IS HIGHLIGHTING WHY YOU SHOULDN’T LET INFLUENCERS… INFLUENCE WHAT YOU THINK TOO MUCH.

IT’S BEEN REPORTED 1 IN 5 AMERICANS SAY THEY GET THEIR NEWS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS, ACCORDING TO A NEW PEW RESEARCH POLL…

BUT THE U-N SURVEY FOUND TWO OUT OF THREE DIGITAL CONTENT CREATORS SAY THEY DO NOT VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION BEFORE THEY SHARE IT.

AND ABOUT A THIRD OF THEM SAID THEY’D SHARE CONTENT WITHOUT CHECKING IT, IF THAT CONTENT CAME FROM A SOURCE OR CREATOR THEY TRUST.

FOUR OUT OF TEN INFLUENCERS SAID THEY USE POPULARITY TO JUDGE THE CREDIBILITY OF ONLINE SOURCES.

AND ONE IN FIVE USED DOCUMENTATION OR EVIDENCE TO DETERMINE CREDIBILITY.

THE U-N’S REPORT SAYS 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 TEAMED UP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS’ KNIGHT CENTER FOR JOURNALISM TO OFFER A FREE ONLINE COURSE IN “HOW TO BE A TRUSTED VOICE ONLINE.

THE MONTH-LONG COURSE INCLUDES LESSONS ON FACTCHECKING AND CREATING CONTENT ABOUT ELECTIONS OR CRISES.

UNESCO SAID NINE-THOUSAND INFLUENCERS HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED FOR THE COURSE.

HERE AT STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS – WE DO CHECK OUR FACTS.

TO GET ALL YOUR LATEST UNBIASED HEADLINES FROM A TRUSTED SOURCE JUST DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.