Is social media a reliable news source?

News has evolved into increasingly shorter formats, shrinking from newspapers to newsletters, and, now, you can pretty much stay updated with just a few quick scrolls through your social media feeds. From the latest OpenAI breakthroughs to the chaos of recent elections, it’s all there. Social media has made it ridiculously easy. I mean, I can zip through about 10 posts on Instagram and X in just 15 minutes before dashing off to class rather than slogging through a single article. The speed and convenience are unbeatable compared to the old-school news cycle. 

But, do I get much from these bite-sized updates? Am I truly understanding the full story? Honestly, the answer is “not really.” When it comes to relying on social media for news, it’s a mixed bag. Sure, it’s great for getting a quick glimpse of what’s happening, but for anything important — whether you’re deciding how to vote or where to invest — you have to dig deeper. You need to go back to the full articles and, even better, check out the primary sources they’re based on.

In addition to concerns about the depth of understanding readers can gain from a single sentence, the reality is that it’s impossible for a social media post to cram the depth of an 800-word article into just a brief caption. My experience writing brief news captions, both for my research and as a social media manager for The News-Letter, has shown me how much detail is left out to meet word limits and to publish in real time. So, what we see on social media is inevitably less than the tip of the iceberg; it merely scratches the surface.

It's also worth noting that news today comes with its own slant. Gone are the days when journalists were expected to maintain complete objectivity in their reporting. Whether it's the writers themselves or the organizations they represent, there's often an agenda to push or a particular angle they're leaning toward. This really comes into play on social media, where you can sway opinions with just a single, well-chosen sentence brimming with emotional buzzwords. The tricky part is, as readers, we often don't catch the assumptions being made or the full picture of what's happening. We're getting a slice, not the whole pie.

Other traditional critiques of social media include its tendency to amp up awareness to the point of exaggeration, the frequent lapses in verifying facts and how its algorithms can create echo chambers. Sure, relying on social media for news has its fair share of downsides, but with our lives moving at breakneck speed and information overload becoming the norm, cutting out social media isn't really the answer. Instead, it's about being smart with how we use it. So, here are a few tips on how to navigate news on social media without getting lost in the noise.

Treat social media notifications as alerts, not the final authority

When a notification piques your interest, don't stop there. Dive into the article to understand the author's full narrative and viewpoint. Then, hit up Google to see what other journalists are saying on the topic. Even better, dig into the references these writers use to back up their claims. That way, you can check out the primary sources for yourself and form your own interpretations.

Follow a variety of news outlets

Diverse perspectives are key, and following different news outlets — such as Bloomberg, CNBC or The Economist — on social media can help. Each agency has its unique strengths — be it their frequency of updates, global coverage or focus areas. Some might be all about national politics while others give you a window into how the same events are seen on the international stage or how they impact financial markets and industry trends.

Stay self-aware and curious

Remember, nobody knows everything, and it's perfectly okay to admit when you're out of your depth. If social media stirs up strong feelings about a news item, take a moment to assess your own knowledge about the topic. It's easy to get swayed by a flood of opinions online but, before you jump on the bandwagon, ask yourself how well you really understand the issue. Recognize that it's fine to change your mind or seek out more information for a clearer picture. Ultimately, it's about being open to learning more and acknowledging that your initial take might need some adjusting.

While social media has transformed the way we access news, it necessitates a critical and selective approach for consumption. By using social media as a starting point rather than the final word, seeking diverse perspectives and acknowledging our own informational limits, we can navigate the complexities of modern news consumption more effectively. This balanced approach allows us to stay informed while also encouraging deeper engagement with the issues that shape our world.