You all know the daily ritual. Wake up, shower, make coffee, and check social media. Whether you realize it or not the average person spends 1 hour and 40 minutes on social media EVERYDAY! What does this mean for the 2016 election? It means that not only are candidates posting to social media but their supporter (including the extremists) are as well.
For the purpose of this article, let’s focus on Facebook. Facebook launched in 2004, blowing Myspace into the black hole of the internet. It then quickly became populated with young millennials and later by their parents. This is where the trouble starts. We have millennials, who for the most part are in support of Hillary Clinton and third party candidates, and their parents who may or may not support Trump. So we see the attack ads transform into attack blogs. These blogs, whether we read them or not, play an important role in the beliefs of the ignorant internet users.
Pe
rsonally, I only click on a post to fully read the article about 30% of the time. This means that my brain has seen controversial images and headlines the other 70% of the time with no information to back up the claims. So I see posts like the one to the right and never think to fact check the blog itself.
By large the blogs are nasty. They name call and frame the opposition in a way that is extremely negative and most of the time untrue.
We, as consumers end up reading head lines that include phrases such as “nonsensical gun control tear”, “cheered on murder of black teen”, and “lying” without further exploring the information.
The thing is, this can work. Key word can. Headlines are created to be catchy, play on words, and stick in your memory. Those who are creating these Facebook posts about gun safety and 2nd Amendment rights really know what they are doing.
The blogs play up conspiracies already in play. What a better way to further an idea than with another article that will never need to be disproved? Just plant your witty title and a good picture and get the shares and likes.
Additionally, anyone who tries to disprove the information is part of the opposition. Why would you listen to your Clinton supporting friend when they try to tell you that your article is full of fallacies and not true? They are just wanting to ensure their candidate wins.
Thirdly, these articles ignore the complexity of human emotions. They frame their “enemy” as a villain. Why would Clinton react positively to anything related to gun violence? Her opinions in the debate are nonsensical.
Lastly, these posts are widespread! 1.6k, comments and 5.5k shares!
My advice is, if you are scrolling through and spending your almost 2 hours on social media each day, at least take the time to follow up on articles that you see concerning the upcoming election. Check the credibility of the website and read other articles that share the opposite view, that way you do not fall pray to the rhetoric of conspiracies.
