Zachary Johnson
English 112
Prof. Dollieslager
2 May 2018
Does the Truth Matter?
In the modern world that the everyday individuals occupy, everyone faces a multitude of tasks and problems that vary a wide range of difficulty; from simple day-to-day tasks, to a once in a lifetime opportunity. One task that individuals face daily is trying to determine what media is true and what media is, indeed, false. Fake news has found a way into every corner of the world, and people don’t even realize it. Even though everybody is constantly surrounded by half-truths and deceit, the truth is still extremely important because it combats the ignorance of others, it lets one see the world through the shroud of lies and gives one the credibility they deserve. These are the reasons as to why everyday citizens must help fight the spread of fake news and its damage to society.
People often find themselves in a dilemma where they must decide whether to believe something is true or not. With social media now as prominent as it is, these decisions become even more important. Lies can be easily spread, whether it is from a loved one or a stranger. Therefore, fake media is slowly becoming a threat to the world. The incompetence and lies of fake media has slowly seeped its way into the lives of many Americans. For example, propaganda from political leaders bashing other candidates to make one believe that their opponents are the anti-Christ are more prevalent in social media. The alarmingly large quantity of people believing false information and regurgitating it onto the internet is growing. For an example, this article: “Frothing Alex Jones Claims Sexual Harassment Part of Worldwide Imbalance in Gender Power Dynamics” by The Onion is a fake news source that some people believe, despite being from a satirical outlet.
False information can lead to disaster when it is believed by the masses. A perfect example is when a man walked into a pizzeria with a rifle and proceed to discharge it inside because he was “investigating himself” due to conspiracy theories he found online. In society, the dangers of the ignorance of the uneducated can cause grave harm to others. Everyone lives in a world where the necessity to educate themselves is becoming even more prompt than before, and people aren’t doing it anymore. Researching a rumor or story has become uncommon, which in turn leads to ignorance by simply believing a non-proven fact. Ignorance among society has overcome common sense, which is even more dangerous than it sounds.
Another reason why the truth still matters is credibility. No one believes someone who cries wolf or lies on a day to day basis. Simply educating yourself from legitimate news sources and people helps one be a better person. Having a sharp and educated mind can help someone get far in life. No one will want to listen to someone who is not a knowledgeable person. If one wants to truly change the world for the better, they would have to show the world that they know what they are talking about. Most look to former American President Barack Obama as a creditable person, due to him and his family never being involved in scandals and always trying to look out for others. An amazing man like the U.S former president faced many challenges against fake media, one being, the rumor of his birth certificate not being valid. These are examples as to why fake media is a growing issue in every nation.
Throughout history society has faced multiple instances of propaganda and fake news. The difference between 40 years ago and today is social media and its ability to reach out to others without difficulty. Because of this growing ability to brainwash and spread lies, the need to proof check and use common sense is even more important than ever. Society must be diligent when it comes to surfing the internet and common social media such as Facebook and Twitter. Learning to combat false media and information is a credible, lifelong skill. Although they may say ignorance is bliss, when the majority has partaken in said bliss, the world faces more struggles. In the end, the majority must help put an end to the lies that are being spread to the public.
Work Cited
Shattuck, Ryan. “Frothing Alex Jones Claims Sexual Harassment Part Of Worldwide Imbalance In Gender Power Dynamics.” The Onion, Www.theonion.com, 2 Mar. 2018, www.theonion.com/frothing-alex-jones-claims-sexual-harassment-part-of-wo- 1823441287.
Domonoske, Camila. “Man Fires Rifle Inside D.C. Pizzeria, Cites Fictitious Conspiracy Theories.” NPR, NPR, 5 Dec. 2016, www.npr.org/sections/thetwo- way/2016/12/05/504404675/man-fires-rifle-inside-d-c-pizzeria-cites-fictitious- conspiracy-theories.
“Why Fake News Is So Incredibly Effective.” Time, Time, time.com/4583475/fake-news- effective/.
Services, Howard Fischer Capitol Media. “Arpaio: Investigation Proves Obama Birth Certificate a Fake.” East Valley Tribune, 6 Mar. 2012, www.eastvalleytribune.com/arizona/arpaio- investigation-proves-obama-birth-certificate-a-fake/article_f171a23a-63f1-11e1-b5a2- 001871e3ce6c.html.