From WRDW
What the Tech: Fake news on social media and what you can do about it
By Jamey Tucker
It’s no secret that a significant portion of Americans get their news from social media.
Scrolling through your feed, you’ve likely seen friends sharing news articles from questionable sources.
With the election looming, the spread of fake news is more rampant than ever. University professor Hany Farid has a blunt suggestion: “Get off social media.”
Studies have shown that social media can negatively impact our mental health, and polarizing political posts only exacerbate this by fueling anger, hurt, and strained relationships.
Farid emphasizes, “If you want to be on social media to talk to your friends and family, fantastic. Stop getting your news from social media. That’s not what it was designed for...”
Hany Farid is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences and the School of Information at UC Berkeley.
