"While one girlfriend is good, two can make life even sweeter." - George Washington

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Isn’t this a great quote from one of Uncle Sam’s founding fathers? I’m sure some of you are here out of curiosity, eager to see if he truly said that. On the other hand, many may already have their fingers hovering over the comments button, ready to insult me without even reading the article.

Don’t just press the button so hard you break your phone.

Since the birth of social media in 1997, we have been able to boost the exchange of information in an unprecedented manner. From your comfortable sofa spot, you can learn about the latest events worldwide. While we count 71% of the U.S. adults who watch local television news, with 65% through network newscasts over a month, more and more people get their news through social media and related newsletters. Social media has been a significant breakthrough in the history of humankind, offering numerous advantages, such as unprecedented levels of global networking that allow us to connect with friends from all over the world. However, like everything in life, it also comes with its own set of disadvantages.

Of course, my quote is a fabricated one (I apologize for using your name, Dear First President), but now that you’re here, consider this. How much information have you been accepting online that you didn’t previously check to ensure it was sure and certain? This one was very obvious to be fake ( I assume? ), but on the internet, they usually come much more nuanced, readily accepted by those who want to accept it.

Yes, I’m talking about you.

“If it’s on the internet then it must be true, and you can’t question it.”
- Abraham Lincoln

Last year, during the election period, I experimented by subscribing to various news channels to observe their perspectives on the events that unfolded. Surprise: each outlet presented a different narrative of the same events. Media channels like CNN and The New York Times portrayed Vice President Kamala Harris at her best, emphasizing her accomplishments while downplaying her mistakes. In contrast, they depicted former President Donald Trump at his worst, often ignoring or minimizing his positive actions and sometimes even diabolizing him. What about Fox News? Well, they took the opposite approach, criticizing Kamala Harris while perfecting Donald Trump’s image.

Everybody works according to their own self interests.

All news channels, whether on social media or through official sources, exhibit some degree of bias and often present misleading information. For instance, many newspapers portray the Kremlin as the epitome of evil. Similarly, how do you think Russian media represent the United States?

Never fully commit yourself to any news channel. People want you to believe what they want you to believe; remember that. When you want to follow news, never read from only one source; diversify yourself. Read the same information from two to three different newspapers, at minimum, including independent news outlets. Keep this article’s title as a reminder of that.

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And you, have you ever come across fake or misleading news on your phone? Participate in this poll to help us understand how prevalent this issue is, and share in the comments the misleading news you have encountered.

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Thank you for reading to the end. I hope this article has helped you gain a better understanding of the world we live in, and that it encourages you to become a better person who makes more informed decisions. This concept is crucial, as one of the major divides in our world stems from our differing perceptions of it. With this information, I hope you find greater peace in your life, knowing that not everything on the internet is true and that people often exaggerate the truth for personal reasons. If you found value in this article and wish to support my work, you're welcome to upgrade to a paid subscription or buy me a coffee.

See you soon, and have a great day.