More than 40 million Gen Zers are teed up to vote in the 2024 presidential election. That means fact-checking the election news you get from social media is more important than ever. With the explosion of generative AI tools, there is even more potential for misinformation to spread, which can lead to misinformed voters. Luckily, there are steps you can take to fact-check the political content you consume, and hold your friends accountable to do the same.
In a December 2023 Her Campus survey, 59% of respondents reported they rely on social media as a source of news. While social media can offer quick and reliable videos and infographics, it also helps misinformation spread like wildfire. Experts predict more misinformation to circulate on social media ahead of the 2024 election than previous years. Deepfakes are especially problematic, because convincing fake videos and images of politicians are now easy to create. With a significant portion of the population using social media to find election content, the spread of fake news could absolutely have the potential to sway elections.
Five states currently have legislation that regulates the use of deepfakes for election content. It’s unlikely the federal government will have any laws against it in time for the November election, though. Regardless of AI-generated content, it’s important to fact-check any information you get from social media, especially when it comes to something like an election. Here are seven ways to find trustworthy election news on social media, according to a social media expert.
- Check content against reputable news sites.
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Social media expert Fana Yohannes says, “Make fact-checking a regular part of your consumption routine, because in reality, on your FYP, there is no separation between news and lifestyle content.” She says a helpful tip for social media users is to assume everything on social media is fake unless they can verify it.
Yohannes recommends double-checking content you get from your algorithms with reputable online news sources. National Public Radio (NPR) is an example of a good source to fact-check with. “If the news is breaking or happening in real-time, look on Twitter for what verified sources are saying,” Yohannes suggests. - Follow trustworthy sources on social media.
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While verified social media accounts can be good sources, Yohannes points out that verified accounts aren’t trustworthy just because they have a blue checkmark. It can also be beneficial to “follow unverified accounts who might be closer to local elections coverage and community-based work,” Yoahnnes says. Additionally, following your chosen candidates for everything from city council to presidential elections is crucial for keeping up-to-date on their verified statements and speeches.
Yohannes also emphasizes that following your news sources on Instagram is important now, because Instagram just announced they won’t recommend political content anymore unless you select it in your settings.
- Sit with the content and think critically.
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Taking time to absorb news content is a good way to make sure you’re thinking critically about what you’re seeing. This may mean saving and coming back to a news story later in the day. Yohannes recommends following reputable social media news sources that deliver content in an entertaining way, such as Saint Hoax on Instagram or Under the News Desk on TikTok.
- Double check those tiktok videos.
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“Edits on TikTok could be a compelling medium for quick storytelling, but it’s always good to do a Google news search to make sure what you’re seeing in an edit is actually real,” Yohannes says. TikTok’s short-form video style doesn’t allow users much time to put information in context, and it’s an easy platform for misinformation to spread.
- Beware of political influencers.
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Campaign groups hire social media influencers to sway certain populations to vote for their candidate. You may agree with what an influencer is saying, but it’s worth investigating whether or not they are being paid. Political influencers don’t have to share their affiliation on every platform, and there are no federal laws that regulate the practice.
- Look for raw content.
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Yohannes also points out that watching live and unedited content can give you more context on a story. Much of the news today, especially on social media, is heavily edited. Watching unedited interviews and debates is important for placing speech in context.
- Normalize Fact-Checking, and hold your friends accountable.
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Social media isn’t the only place voters interact online, and it’s important to not spread misinformation. Yohannes suggests using messaging apps as a separate space to hold each other accountable as news consumers. “Don’t be afraid to ask your group chat if something is real, or share by leading with, ‘I don’t know if this is real, but here’s what I’m seeing,’” Yohannes says.
Approaching content with skepticism can inspire others to do the same. You’re also more likely to slow down and spot questionable information when you’re working with others. Holding each other accountable is paramount as the trend of misinformation on social media continues.
Fact-checking is usually quick, and could save you a lot of confusion. Scrolling with these tips in mind will help you navigate the 2024 election season, and stay confident that the news you’re hearing is legit.
