Will you submit to the misinformation or protect your freedom of speech?? Graphic courtesy of freshman Megan Elzer.
It’s unfortunately safe to say that misinformation isn’t uncommon in today’s world, especially for San Luis Obispo High School students. It’s not exactly unusual to fall victim to the mass amounts of misinformation that have been pumped out, especially after the 2024 election.
“It’s astonishing how much misinformation and trash is out there on the internet and TV,” said freshman Gabby Foster.
It’s especially vital that we understand what’s real and what’s not as new stations become increasingly subordinate to social media. One of the bigger problems with the continuation of misinformation is that it not only supports those who do so but allows the submerging of true information and thus, control of public opinion.
“I believe everyone should have the right to have a platform to voice their opinions and concerns, however, I do believe accurate, truthful information is important as well!” said health teacher Daniel Monroe.
History has proven time and again that public opinion can become one of the most powerful things in the human world; It can cause good, but also bad. Thomas Jefferson’s newspaper articles, notably his “A Summary View of the Rights of British America,” played a crucial role in fueling support for the American Revolution by spreading his ideals and hopes for America via the printing press, which helped inspire the freedom of the press part of the first amendment.
However, misinformation and public opinion have swayed dictators’ opinions before. Consider past dictators, nearly all of them have repressed opposition from rivals while using misinformation and public opinion to depress any scavengers from presenting a front against them, a tactic still being used today.
“It’s thanks to greedy people wanting power that the world is so confusing today. It’s almost impossible to go on social media without being sucked into news about humanity,” said an anonymous senior.
If San Luis Obispo High School students can resist the thrall of misinformation and the majority of public information, then Expressions fully supports young teenagers’ efforts to improve the world.
Sources: Foxnews.com, LibraryoftheCongress.gov, Statista.com.
