Opinion: News on Social Media Causes Real Harm

Published: Nov 11, 2025

Social media is the future of journalism. 

Many see this as a positive, given that more people will be able to get their viewpoints heard. However, the lack of sourcing, fact checking and critical thinking could prove detrimental for our society. 

The Guardian reported on a recent study which found that “54% of Americans said they received news from social media.” Interestingly, “Half said they sourced news from the once all-powerful TV networks.” The dramatic shift towards social media has occurred within the past 20 years or so, which is a jarring difference in such a short time. 

The news world is split as to whether this is a net positive for society. Creative Media News argues that “Journalists can tap into crowdsourced information, monitor trends and collaborate with other media professionals.” Proponents of this viewpoint argue that this type of on-demand information will produce a more informed populace and create a more efficient journalistic community. 

A study published in Human Nature Behavior concluded that “prompting social media users to follow news organizations increases current affairs knowledge, belief accuracy and awareness of true news stories.”

“The instantaneous nature of social media enables news to reach a wide audience in a matter of seconds,” says an article posted on Yellowbrick. “This real-time dissemination of news has transformed the way we consume and engage with information.”

In recent years, journalism has become endlessly fast-paced, allowing audiences to keep up to date with the most pressing news. 

However, there are also many problems with the constant stream of news on social media. 

In the Human Nature Behavior study, the researchers also concluded that participants experienced increased “awareness of and belief in false news stories.” The recent rise of AI has many concerned about the integrity of social media. Sites such as Sora, which produce authentic looking videos, are of great concern, as they are able to produce videos which many people are unable to differentiate from the real thing. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, “53% of Americans are not too or not at all confident they can detect if something is made by AI versus a person.” 

Along with AI is the issue of human produced fake news. CNN reported that “three in four Americans overestimate their ability to spot false headlines – and the worse they are at it, the more likely they are to share fake news.” 

Social media journalism is critical for the dissemination of information and real-time updates on news stories. However, there’s also cause for concern. Many people, especially those who are less familiar or newer to using social media, are far more likely to fall for fake news or AI scams. While it is a powerful tool, the proper use of social media requires education. 

The Cornell University Library provides resources to help spot fake news.