Following reports that TikTok and Instagram are becoming go-to sites for vacation planners, new findings indicate that these apps (along with YouTube) are also increasingly becoming a source of information for young people. .
According to a report by Ofcom (opens in a new tab) (a UK communications regulator), these three social media platforms are the top three sources among teens surveyed. For slightly older people in the 16-24 age category, social media and the Internet were also their preferred way of viewing news, with the Internet generally outperforming more traditional options (such as television, newspapers, and the Internet). radio) between 25-34 years and 35-44 groups.
Yet despite its growing popularity, social media news remains the least trustworthy, according to its 2020 ranking, with only around a third of people using social media for news actually trusting it. what they read there. By comparison, around 75% of people who listen to local BBC radio trust what they hear in these reports.
Although "fake news" has been adopted as a term used by some bad actors when referring to any report they personally don't like, it's still a valid concern. Social media and the accessibility of the internet have made it easier for fake news to spread, but whether it comes from new or more traditional platforms, how do you avoid fake news?
How to avoid fake news on TikTok, YouTube and everywhere else
One of the most important factors in evaluating whether or not news is fake is looking at the source of the information being reported.
A big advantage of online news (whether it's a website like TechRadar or a social media platform) is that it's usually easy to trace the origin of news. TV and radio also often cite the source of their data, but that's obviously a bit less convenient than simply clicking on a hyperlink.
For example, instead of just believing us when we say Ofcom said what we wrote, you can follow a link to the report we've included above to verify the information for yourself.
But while not citing sources in any type of news story can be an immediate red flag, you also need to be careful about who or what you quote. Although Ofcom has a strong track record of writing reliable reports and fixing bugs, it's not that good everywhere. If the original information comes from a place known to be in the past or from a source that has a very short history, it may not be the most reliable.
In addition, it is useful to understand the context of the information. If it is a study, how was it financed? Could outside influences have affected the data? For example, if a beverage brand claims that a study it paid for found its new product to be the tastiest, healthiest beverage ever made, you might want to take the results with a grain of salt.
Hopefully these tips and tricks can help you avoid fake news online and know which news sources you can trust.
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