I’m Tired of Fake News, Aren’t You?
Look, I’ve been editing magazines for 22 years. Twenty-two. That’s longer than some of you have been alive, probably. And in all that time, I’ve never seen a mess like this. The news industry? It’s a dumpster fire. But here’s the thing: it’s not just the media’s fault. We’re all to blame.
I was at a conference in Austin last March, and this guy—let’s call him Marcus—told me something that stuck with me. He said, “Mike, we’ve got 87 billion sources now, but we’re more misinformed than ever.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
Social Media: The Great Equalizer (and Destroyer)
Social media was supposed to democratize information. Instead, it’s turned us all into armchair journalists. You know what I mean? Your cousin Sarah shares a post, and suddenly she’s an expert on geopolitics. It’s maddening.
I get it, though. It’s easy. It’s right there in your feed. But here’s the kicker: it’s also completley garbage. Most of the time. And we’re lapping it up like it’s the gospel truth.
I had coffee with a colleague named Dave about three months ago. He told me he saw a crime news report today on Facebook. I asked him if he checked the source. He looked at me like I had two heads. “It had a picture,” he said. Yeah, Dave. So does my cat’s butt.
But Wait, There’s More!
Okay, okay. I’m not saying all social media is evil. It’s a tool. And like any tool, it’s only as good as the person using it. But honestly, most of us are using it like a drunk guy uses a chainsaw. (I saw that happen once. It did not end well.)
And don’t even get me started on algorithms. They’re like that friend who only tells you what you wanna hear. “Oh, you love pizza? Here’s 214 more pizza places you’ll love!” Great. But what about that amazing sushi spot down the street? You’ll never know about it because the algorithm doesn’t think you’ll like it.
A Tangent: The Time I Tried to Go Off the Grid
So, last Tuesday, I decided to do an experiment. I went 36 hours without checking any news on social media. I mean, I checked my email, I read some articles on actual news websites, but no Facebook, no Twitter, no Instagram. And you know what? It was… nice. Peaceful, even. But also kinda lonely. Like when you’re at a party and you don’t know anyone, so you just stand there sipping your drink and pretending to text.
I told my wife about it. She laughed. “You’re such a drama queen,” she said. Maybe. But at least I’m a drama queen with a point.
So What Do We Do?
I don’t have all the answers. But here’s what I do know: we need to be more critical. We need to ask questions. We need to dig deeper. And we need to stop sharing stuff just because it has a catchy headline or a pretty picture.
And for the love of all that is holy, check your sources. It’s not that hard. If you’re not sure, ask someone. Like a real person. Not a comment section.
I’m not saying you need to become a journalist. But you do need to think like one. Be curious. Be skeptical. Be… I don’t know, better than you are now.
Anyway, that’s my rant for the day. I’m gonna go drink some tea and stare out the window like a proper old man.
About the Author: Mike Reynolds is a senior magazine editor with over 20 years of experience. He’s been called a grumpy old man more times than he can count, but he prefers the term “seasoned professional.” When he’s not editing, he’s probably complaining about something or drinking tea. You can find him on Twitter @mikereynolds, but honestly, his feed is probably just as messy as the rest of the internet.
