Misinformation, social media, and the danger of unchecked narratives

Editor’s Note: Though written earlier, this article rises again because our stories don’t expire. They circle back, reminding us, grounding us, calling us to pay attention. This is one of those reminders.

When are we going to stop falling for misinformation, and how many times is it going to divide us all until we see the real issue? When are we going to realize that in this day and age the average educated person can’t search for an issue and trust all the news channels that show up first and that we have to do our own research?

In a world where information is so easily available, misinformation spreads faster than ever before. Social media platforms, algorithm-driven news feeds, and clickbait headlines prioritize engagement over accuracy, making it difficult to distinguish truth from deception. While access to information was once seen as a solution to ignorance, it has instead created information overload without accountability. Unfortunately, this results in a society where people are divided by conflicting versions of the “truth.”

Misinformation does not only misinform; it actively shapes beliefs, behaviours, and relationships. False, or misleading stories fuel political polarization, reinforce harmful stereotypes, and create distrust and unrest. When they consume information that aligns only with their existing beliefs, it discourages critical thinking. For example, we have stopped asking questions on whether we have the full story.

One reason misinformation is so effective is because it appeals to emotion rather than logic. Fear, anger, and outrage are powerful motivators, and online platforms often reward content that provokes strong reactions. Many people assume that information appearing at the top of search results or shared widely must be credible. However, popularity does not equal accuracy. Confirmation bias also plays a significant role, as individuals are more likely to trust information that reinforces their existing views, even when credible evidence suggests the opposite.

Recently, there was a situation where a YouTuber by the name of Nick Shirley posted a viral video that gained more than 130 million views on X claiming that he had uncovered fraud in Somali immigrant run daycares in Minneapolis. However, this was far from the truth as all he did was go up to daycares with bodyguards and cameras demanding to see the children inside and asking where the money from their businesses went.

CNN spoke to this individual and found out that he didn’t come during their business hours and when asked if he really thinks that these businesses should just be unlocked, he claimed “There should be a reception,” when in reality all day cares are locked for the safety of the children going there. In addition to that, WCCO confirmed that children were in fact attending one of the daycares he alleged was fraud, called the ABC Learning Center. They spoke with the director, Ahmed Hasan, and he showed them footage of children being dropped off by the back entrance of the building three hours before Nick Shirley arrived and an hour after they left.

The biggest thing I noticed was the headlines not just saying day care fraud, but Somali fraud. While yes, there were day care scams that were investigated years ago and some still exist now, this video created immense hate toward the Somali community as everyone as a whole was being blamed. Worst of all, the president of the United States said, “They contribute nothing”, and that he “doesn’t want them in our country,” referring to Somali immigrants. So many people were saying acts are facts and that this wasn’t racism, however when people are so quick to believe something even when it has been disputed and debunked, in this case, what often remains is racism and hate.

What this situation shows is how quickly misinformation can spread and how much damage it can cause before the truth even has a chance to catch up. When people don’t question sources, or look for context, false narratives can turn into hate, especially toward already marginalized communities. Stopping misinformation requires people to slow down, think critically, and be aware of how emotion-driven content is designed to go viral. Media platforms, schools, and policymakers also have a responsibility to value accuracy over attention and engagement.

Misinformation may never fully disappear, but its impact can be reduced if people choose to question what they see instead of accepting it at face value. In a world where information is everywhere, the effort to seek the truth matters, because without it, division becomes easier than understanding.