Another four years have passed as another presidential election approaches quickly, and although many of the traditions have stayed constant, the world in 2024 feels vastly different from prior election years.
The increase in the amount of misinformation being spread through social media has made it more important this year than any previous election to ensure that voters truly know the candidates’ stances and goals. Turning in an educated vote that values specific policies over a candidate’s popularity is crucial in setting up the best possible future for the country.
Quick social media clips and inherent biases have made it all too easy to accept information that has not been fully contextualized or is just flat out false. Social media algorithms that feed into biases to increase engagement only promote this blind acceptance and plant people firmly in one position.
While it can be convenient to consume bite-sized forms of information, they often lead into a cycle which results in radicalization and a refusal to accept varying viewpoints. This push to either extreme side also discourages cooperation and unity, not only at the community level, but in the upper levels of the government as well.
The effects of radicalization can be seen in the increased polarization in Congress and the unwillingness of lawmakers to compromise to achieve a common goal. It’s not hard to find laws that have been struck down simply because Republicans and Democrats were unable to work together for the benefit of the country. One of the most notable and most recent laws was a bill meant to restrict immigrants seeking asylum from entering the country which would have advanced the shared goal of reducing the number of illegal immigrants coming across the Southern border. However it was blocked before it could even pass in the Senate.
The acceptance that stems from blind faith in our leaders can also lead to unwarranted attacks on communities and groups within them. Due to false claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio spread by presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance, the community was faced with over 30 bomb threats and public school closures in the following weeks.
The threats, lack of progress, and disruptions propagated by misinformation have to stop and it is clear that we cannot depend on politicians to correct themselves or to always be sharing the correct information. What people must realize is both candidates are attempting to appeal to as many people as possible which impacts the information they choose to share and withhold. As a result, it falls to individuals to do the research and find the truth rather than complacently accept the claims and biased information thrown at them from all perspectives.
With the number of different news organizations and sources of information available, it can be a daunting task to find largely unbiased pieces of information. When it comes to finding out the validity of specific claims, factual information is often easily accessible through organizations or people with a direct connection to the claims. For example, after the claims expressed about immigrants during the presidential debate, the City of Springfield website set up a page dedicated to answering questions about its Haitian immigrants.
When it comes to information that is more susceptible to bias, such as the impact of certain policies and laws as well as claims about broader issues, ensuring that one’s information is coming from various sources across the political spectrum is crucial. It can be difficult to find various sources just using a search engine, but websites such as Allsides, which many students have already used in Social Studies classes, can be an invaluable resource in finding multiple different perspectives and identifying biases.
I know the time, effort, and persistence involved with creating informed opinions may seem daunting, but the fight against misinformation and polarization is vital to the future of the country. Basing decisions on whichever candidate seems the most appealing or popular at first glance can be tempting, but allowing individual opinion to be swayed by people with the loudest voices can be incredibly damaging and work against our own goals.
One step towards educating oneself can also inspire others to share that enthusiasm to embrace a multitude of different perspectives, leading to a more accepting and unified society. Being an educated member of the political community with credible information and various perspectives is a powerful tool as we grow from young voices in the community to adults accepting a civic duty.
