The 24-hour news cycle: stock tickers, recent events, tragedies, and feel-good stories. This information is a daily regurgitation of what is happening around us, and its validity in the face of sensationalism should be questioned. Furthermore, the 24-hour news cycle has evolved into something greater today; what used to be the habit of reading the daily paper or watching the nightly news has become a constant influx of dopamine hits. Just about twenty years ago or so, many would attest that the bulk of their media consumption came from relatively reputable outlets. However, with the advent of the internet and social media apps like TikTok and Instagram Reels, people find themselves consuming media from questionable sources.
“You are what you eat.” This adage applies to the media; we are also affected by the content we consume. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), “What is clear is that digital media do impact human psychological well-being and cognitive performance, and this depends on total screen time and what people are actually doing in the digital environment.” According to this study, mindful consumption is integral to viewers’ psychological well-being. In a TED talk by Amy Blankson, the addictive nature of social media platforms is on full display.
This then provides us with a moment to reflect on what we are actually consuming and whether it is even true. To investigate this, I took note of my media consumption habits for a 24-hour cycle, and here is what I discovered:
When I woke up at 3 p.m. to check my phone, I immediately opened my Instagram account. I was bombarded with memes and other entertaining content. What started as a harmless endeavor became a black hole for my productivity.
Hours had passed, and at 5 p.m., I had finally started my day. Upon closer inspection, I realized that most of what was on my feed were unchecked and baseless claims without any real factual backing. Take this post for instance:
The post outlines the “heroic” exploits of the ruthless dictator Adolf Hitler; the blatant anti-semitism of the post is also filled with angry antisemitic remarks as well. Such unchecked and misinformative posts are found quite easily as well. It serves as the hateful rhetoric often employed by anti-Semites.
I also found commentary by lay citizens on the recent Trump Administration group chat leak:
Such unchecked and unbacked reporting is not subject to the expected scrutiny of official outlets. This then has the harmful effect of misinforming and misleading the public. The commentary is not outlined as an opinion and can be taken as fact. This departure from conventional reporting serves as the basis for misinformation in society.
The main takeaway I had from examining my media consumption habits is that most of my information came from unofficial sources. Rarely, in my everyday endeavors, do I take the time or effort to confirm the information presented to me. Experiencing this from the lens of a layperson demonstrated how much we take at face value. It also made me realize our era’s rampant and apparent threat of misinformation.
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