When it comes to vetting news sources, you can spot what’s credible by verifying the topic across a variety of sources, researching the outlet’s expertise, and checking the web address to make sure you’re reading the site you think you’re reading.

In order for publications to succeed, they often have to write dramatic headlines to compete with viral fake news. People of the world will have to move away from these companies and support businesses that protect their privacy.” This frequently leads to ineffectual privacy legislation or well-meaning statements from political leaders that may not do much to address real privacy issues.Īccording to Mark Weinstein, the Founder of MeWe, a social platform that allows you to connect with others while still protecting your privacy, “a well-intentioned legislation is ineffective against these giants. Sites like OpenSecrets and Goods Unite Us often reveal that lawmakers are either on the payroll of, do consulting work for, or are politically supported by these same large companies. Rajul Punjabi, an educator and senior editor at Mic, a culture and politics outlet, advises that you can also see if these statements match the company’s intentions by looking at what politicians and organizations they fund. Facebook is often quick to say they don’t sell your information, but their only response to questions about why they collect it is in order to make their own services better-which is supposedly in your interest, but not explicitly in your control, even if you choose not to use it. But in the same way you have to be wary of fake news, you have to read in between the lines of corporate statements.įor example, Facebook’s statement promises the company will protect user data, but nowhere does the company acknowledge why they’re collecting data in the first place. Facebook, wary of government intervention, recently published a post about their privacy efforts and Twitter announced their plans to become a more credible news source, but individual users still bear the responsibility for seeking out authoritative and truthful news sources and diverse voices. Therefore, it’s up to you to proactively adapt to this brave new world, starting with your everyday routine.īig tech companies are finally giving serious attention to these issues. Unprecedented events that have unfolded within the past few years have revealed the flaws and weaknesses of the US government and corporate America, whose actions have shown they don’t always have your best interests in mind.

The rapid growth and influence of technology, in particular, is taking control of your reality, and it can have a permanent impact on your personal identity. But when you zoom back in, it’s not as obvious to see how these factors are impacting you on an individual level. When you zoom out, it’s easy to see that American society is approaching a modern-day dystopia as the once sci-fi-worthy stories of environmental destruction, technological control, and loss of human rights and freedoms creep to fruition. Robot dogs roam the streets beside police officers, a decentralized currency is revolutionizing the economy, digital citizenship and e-governments are emerging, jobs are being automated, and billionaires are commercializing space as Earth faces a record-breaking climate crisis.

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