- Where do you get your news?

At least a fifth of American adults, most of them younger, are turning to social media.

That comes from a 2020 study by Pew Research Center.

And the study finds those who rely on social media for news are less informed, especially on topics involving politics, and more likely to have heard about false or unproven claims.

(upbeat music) The way we get information has changed dramatically over the last decade.

Traditional media delivers information directly.

It is passive, no feedback required.

Social media platforms rely on the audience to lean in.

Users actively participate in finding, creating, and sharing information.

It may not be deliberate, but some of that content can be false or misleading.

That's called misinformation.

Over half of all Americans who have shared misinformation claim they didn't know it was fake at the time.

Disinformation is different.

Disinformation is content that is both false and malicious.

It is deliberately published, often aimed at creating fear and distress among targeted audiences.

Digital disinformation can be a powerful tool used to ignite violence and promote racial distrust, and it has played a major role in our elections during the last decade.

In the lead up to the 2022 midterm elections, the Brennan Center for Justice began monitoring election content on social media platforms.

They found a pattern of false narratives, usually stories involving voting machines, mail-in voting, and voter fraud.

Those stories were shared and piggybacked on breaking news to look credible.

Brennan also identified networks of groups who spread disinformation and conspiracy theories at high, sometimes viral rates, and that information was tailored to each social media platform.

Nearly seven out of 10 American adults surveyed back in 2019 by Pew said made up news impacts their confidence in the government.

They blame disinformation on the gridlock among elected leaders.

Over half said they have started losing confidence in each other.

What can we do?

Check your sources.

Is your information coming from a trusted news outlet?

Always double check election-related information.

Reach out to your Secretary of State's office.

They have the real info on where and how to vote.

Hit the pause button before you share stories on social media.

Take time to fact check stories and information.

Try factcheck.org or snopes.com, two websites highly respected for debunking false information.

The stakes are high.

As the Brennan Center puts it, election-related falsehoods corrode democracy.

So what are you willing to do to protect the truth?

(upbeat music)