A great deal of us are informed about the world through our social media accounts. It’s fantastic that we now have unprecedented access to information about almost everything. The only problem with this is that misinformation looks remarkably similar to proven information. Everyone with an opinion can now write an article, fabricate a ‘list of studies’ or even create a documentary based on misunderstandings or falsities. With the right format, emotional music, edited clips and interviews – the ‘new’ truth can be overwhelming and eaten up readily by the public. Our social media feeds also channel self-affirming information into our feeds, making us feel more and more justified in our new beliefs. How to broaden our scope? Look up articles (preferably peer-reviewed) that claim to oppose your views. Engage with reasonable people who have different beliefs and be willing to learn. Your opinions and ideas can evolve everyday, don’t make the mistake of tying your identity too closely to one set of beliefs.
LLUMI Australia 