‘Tis the season for an election! During this fall season, one word has been circulating, topping the typical talk surrounding pumpkins, treats and hot new deals–election.
Holding more substantial weight than witches and wreaths, the word election serves as a salute to what our nation has worked towards since its inception and an opportunity to go further – an indication of the direction we desire to go. And, this election’s outcome in part rested on the 41 million eligible first-time voters.
In today’s world, many people are subjected to information deserts – areas both geographically and digitally with limited access to reliable information. A majority of the information placed at the forefront of American politics is tainted with bias and slanted vision. To truly institute personal beliefs on issues circulating throughout this election, we have had to do the work. Voters needed sources that were both effective and insightful in presenting information on a clean plate.
Over 90% of adults aged 18-24 report that they use social media, spending on average 60-80% of their screen time on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. During times of meaningless scrolling, a post, reel or clip centered around candidates and their views is bound to enter a feed, perhaps affecting opinions and in the long run, action.
The foundation of media platforms are algorithms that operate on a consumer surplus and rely on echo chambers, meaning your phone is truly telling you what you want to hear and catering to your perspective. While the limited coverage and information regarding different stances on issues is not inherently the fault of the user, it is an issue that can be easily fixed, requiring only an open mind.
In the current election, five main topics were in question: immigration, economic policy, foreign policy, abortion and the environment. If you planned on casting a ballot this election season, it was part of your responsibility to understand your stance on these matters, in addition to where a political party may or may not stand in regard to these topics.
Furthermore, it is crucial, but often overwhelming to understand where to begin. Contrary to popular belief, TikTok is not a reliable source, so let’s all stop treating it as one.
So in the future, where can you start? Online books published by a scholarly medium are a great introduction to the world of politics and policy. These books and journals are written by academics and require an unbiased perspective to be published.
Media outlets like CNN, Fox News and other cable news networks, along with social media platforms and online streaming sources, are excluded from The Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The commission grants the previously listed outlets grace from required discussion of federal topics in an unbiased manner. The FCC’s responsibilities include regulating interstate and international communication by radio, television, wire and cable. Meanwhile, academic publications are only granted exposure to the market if declared free of bias.
If you find yourself short on time, our generation has one of the greatest tools at our fingertips – the internet. Websites and programs are available and able to summarize sources in order to fit personalized understanding and digestion.
We have the tools, we have the resources. So, I urge you, for the sake of our future and democracy: Read a book, please.
Brianna Sherman-Blanding is a staff reporter at The Review. Her opinions are her own and do not represent the majority opinion of The Review staff. She may be reached at [email protected].
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