On topic with this past lecture subject is the internet. Particularly, how we use it, where we get our information, and the credibility of those sources. Now more than ever, we have access to all the information in the world and can easily find both accurate and inaccurate answers. I think this is something that has become so apparent to me lately.
Watching friends, family, acquaintances and even strangers posting very false information about this ongoing pandemic had been very disheartening to me. I don’t have the time or energy to go through and try to educate every single person I see posting misinformation online and honestly, what good would that do anyway? Facebook has made it so easy for groups, such as the antivaxx movement, to spread lies and mistrust in science. It’s incredible to me how a combination of fear and ignorance can make people so susceptible to believing everything that they come across online. Especially when it’s something that fits in to the narrative that they rather believe.
So what can we do about this? Well honestly, all I can hope to do is share reliable data and facts with sources and hope that’s enough to inform even a small amount of people. But it can seem hopeless and like you’re screaming into a void with no avail because there’s just so many platforms, with so many users, all shouting their own opinions too.
No Rest for the Scientists 