Fighting misinformation to protect democracy

Social media misinformation does more than mislead; it damages public trust and threatens democracy.

A 2018 MIT study found that false news spreads 70% faster than the truth, embedding misinformation before facts can catch up. With social media as a primary news source, staying informed is harder than ever. The consequences are real.

In 2016, the “Pizzagate” conspiracy led to violence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine misinformation caused fear and delayed life-saving actions. In the 2024 election, false claims about mail-in voting and fraud spread widely, confusing voters and undermining trust in the results. These incidents show how misinformation distorts public opinion and harms vulnerable communities, especially those with limited access to accurate information.

Euna Mehnaz Khan, a misinformation researcher doing her dissertation on the mitigation of misinformation on social media, identifies two main spreaders: intentional disinformers and those who unknowingly share false content due to confirmation bias or lack of digital literacy.

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This highlights the urgent need for education to help people recognize misinformation. However, education alone isn’t enough. We need government regulations requiring social media platforms to quickly remove misinformation and be transparent about their moderation practices.

According to a 2024 Reuters Institute report, nearly 60% of Americans believe misinformation influenced recent elections. This underscores the need for immediate policy action.

By holding platforms accountable and improving digital literacy, we can protect public trust and promote reliable information. I urge readers to contact their representatives and demand regulations that defend truth and democracy. 

Muskan Singh, Eden Prairie

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Editor’s note: The letter writer is a sophomore at The Blake School.