Student Spectrums

Rayyan Khan has been a student at Ilm Academy since 1st grade and has been under writing coach Irum Sarfaraz since 8th grade. Under her guidance he has been able to absorb and reflect the values of a Muslim and incorporate these topics into his work. His work displays his deep reflections about present day society, specifically as a member of Gen Z.

Imagine waking up one morning to a news report describing “Coffee causes cancer,” only to find out that this report isn’t true at all.  As of October twenty-first CBS has issued an article about the problems with fake news and the consequences if spread. fake news may sound like a catchy current trend, but the actual meaning of the term and its impact on people is quite serious. It’s one of the most important problems of our digital world today, which also affects personal lives and very much society. Ahead of the election in November, understanding how this news spreads and knowing what we can do to fight this problem will be important.

According to studies, this is a problem that will only get worse. Reports from MIT say that false news spreads six times quicker on Twitter compared to true news. This is in part because fake news generally has more exciting content that will catch people’s attention. The fake news stories are 70% more likely to be retweeted than the true stories. Additionally, a survey by Statista found that 45% of adults in the UK see fake news every day, while over 70% of Americans report seeing it in the past. This can seriously change how people understand health issues or political opinions. 

Being very cautious on social media in general is an unwritten rule as the internet is everyone’s word, whether true or false. It serves as a way for people to express themselves, however, people use this as a weapon to control society. This is most damaging during an election in November, where it aims at changing what people think or how they vote. Democratic processes, reliant on the public for trust in what happens, often use false information related to candidates, voting methods, or election results.

The level of concern stretches as far back to me and my family as being informed is a major role of living in the United States. Frustration and a sense of misplacement in society overcome the mind when you are unaware of the world around you. Being misinformed is not just hard; it also makes people feel tricked and unsure about everything. The large amount of fake news is making our confused society worse, pushing everyone into a state of sadness in which it is impossible to tell what is right and what is wrong. Anxiety and mistrust go along with fake news, which could be very distressing. It can render people hopeless and doubtful towards all media limiting the voice that every citizen has..

In an effort to fight fake news, many precautions can be executed. One way is by finding the source, rather than getting it from social media. Looking it up online or researching it through the website would provide reassurance and trust in whether this is real or false. Furthermore, check if the image is good quality, who wrote the post, when it was published, and whether the font style fits.  Also simply search that “news” on a certified outlet. Refering to several reliable sources can aid in finding out what is actually happening. 

 As a society attending to these issues now, saves us from reaching and embedding the future in a  very precarious position., The problems will continue to escalate and escalate to the point such that even news outlets might fall into this gimmick. More importantly, the voice of voters can also be hindered and cause mayhem in the election tally, directly putting the country in a worse position if it were to happen. The decisions we make today will shape our world, and making the right choices is a personal burden. Inaction might lead to more inequality, more environmental damage, and more economic troubles. The ripples of this will touch every life, from personal health to global stability. Collaboration and speed can make all the difference, so today’s actions can build a better, stronger tomorrow.