Over the past year and a half, people have had much more time to spend at home, and during the 2020 presidential election, a record 67% of people voted -- 5 percent higher than in 2016. With this, people have been spending a lot more time taking in the news; however, most people get their information from social media platforms, mainly Facebook and Twitter. 

With Donald Trump’s return to politics and the increasing coverage from news organizations such as Fox News and NBC, people must receive accurate information at the minimum. Although the majority of news organizations and other sources of information are correct, false information is still hazardous, as it spreads much faster. According to a 2018 study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, they found that false information is 70 percent more likely to be retweeted than accurate information. With millions of users on Twitter, the spreading of false information is still a significant problem. Even people, such as former president Donald J. Trump, have spread incorrect information regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, whether accidental or intentional. 

Furthermore, independent parties can help further the spread of false information, with companies such as the company Crowds on Demand, which pays people to act as protestors against a particular issue. The media could unknowingly report on this issue when the reality is that people are just standing there because either a company or an individual wants to make it seem as if a large group of demonstrators is against a particular policy. 

There is still good news for people who want to stick to the facts. First, people should look towards reputable news sources that are mainly unbiased, which especially report on situations or events that occur and don’t give much personal input on what people should think about it. Individuals can find bias charts online, which show which political ideology the source leans towards, and the reliability of the facts. Additionally, consumers should cross-reference the information they see with other outlets.

Ultimately, as citizens, being informed is the most important aspect of maintaining a healthy society. However, it is important to remember not to get too attached to any singular idea without doing in-depth research.