The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

Students and teachers are effected by fake news epidemic

With 2016 being a presidential election year and 2.3 billion active social media users increasing, fake news has never been more prominent.

“I have only encountered fake news on social media. I typically see people sharing and posting things that are clearly not true and asserting them as fact,” English teacher Casey Holland said.“The articles that I encountered were mostly centered around the election. It got so bad I deleted my Facebook account.”

According to Buzzfeed data,  the total number of shares, likes and comments on fake news articles is 1.4 million higher than traditional news articles on Facebook.

“When browsing the internet or reading or watching the news, I have never directly seen fake news and been able to point it out, and that’s a reason why it’s so problematic,” sophomore Peyton Gaskill said.

Often we don’t know if what we are hearing is fake,

— Peyton Gaskill

Gaskill along with other English II students are in the process of writing a research paper in which they must gather their own sources. Teachers actively warn students to evaluate whether their articles are from trustworthy sources.

“I think when students are doing research, particularly with the databases and print sources in the library, they use high-quality sources.  They are also told to evaluate their sources with caution,” English teacher Erin Fluchel said.

English Academic Support Center teacher Kristen Witt agrees that students reading and using information from non reputable sources is an issue.

Students and teachers alike are becoming aware of the serious consequences of fake news.

“Fake news and misinformation can affect the beliefs of groups of people. If a person in power said a lie, but it supported the world view of their followers, most of those followers would take it as the truth,” Gaskill said. “People don’t challenge their own worldviews, and I think that’s dangerous.”

 

Leave a Comment
Donate to Pathfinder
$175
$800
Contributed
Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of Parkway West High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
About the Contributor
Claire Smout, AWARDS COORDINATOR
Grade:  12 Years on Staff:  4 If you were a fictional character, who would you be?  According to magquiz.com, Leslie Knope. Does the toilet paper go over or under on the roll?  Under! How many alarms do you set in the morning to get up on time?  One. Favorite Quote:  "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." -1 Corinthians 10:31
Donate to Pathfinder
$175
$800
Contributed
Our Goal

Comments (0)

Please use your own name and keep your comments respectful!
All Pathfinder Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Activate Search
The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High
Students and teachers are effected by fake news epidemic