Technology is so widely used that people rely on it for everything. It reminds us when to do things, entertains us and gives us information. The wonderful thing about the internet is that much information can easily be found in one place. However, this blessing is a curse in disguise because of the amount of information online. This makes it difficult for a reader to know what is accurate and what is not. Many people are gullible and they tend to believe everything that they read. Social media allows news to spread much faster, so when false information is reported, a lot of people will be exposed to it quickly. 

Specifically, unverified information can affect people’s choices and perceptions on a variety of issues . Readers should be careful to note the origin and validity of information on all topics, including COVID-19. Since there are so many sources of information, people want to grab your attention so that you read their article, watch their video, or listen to their podcast. 

Clickbait has become a popular tool to attract readers. It includes quotes from celebrities, photoshopped images, and other misleading things that will cause a person to click on the article, video, or podcasts. Clickbait articles usually begin by saying something to the extent of “You won’t believe what happens next…”. The point of clickbait is to lure in readers or viewers, even though it will fail to meet their expectations. 

Many students tend to use whatever they find on the internet when they are doing research. They don’t pay attention to whether the information they find is outdated, satirical, or even legitimate. Some websites may not be kept up to date, so the information in them may no longer be true. Always check the date of your resource before you decide to use it for your research. 

Additionally, some websites have articles that are satirical, or sarcastic. These articles are not meant to be taken seriously, as they are just for entertainment. Websites such as theonion.com notoriously use satire in their articles, yet many people believe that the content in the site is true. 

Finally, not all sources are credible. The wonderful thing about the internet is that anyone can say whatever they want and publish it. However, you shouldn’t just trust anyone who posts online because it is often difficult to validate the information. Many credible sources usually end with .edu or .gov. All in all, it is crucial to make sure that the information you find is trustworthy before using it as a source.