Question: How can we help our kids learn the difference between what journalists do and what social media influencers do? For example, what are some of the most important rules or practices that journalists are generally required to follow when posting that influencers are most likely not following?
— Investigating Influencers
Answer: Social media feeds are like stew. A little bit of everything is simmering in the same pot, from news to opinion and advertising to entertainment. It can be tough to know whether something is credible news or is just seasoned with a hint of newsy vibes. Here are some steps to teach our kids.
1. Ask: Is the original poster — or OP, in internet slang — a professional journalist with a history of working for standards-based news outlets? A quick Google search can confirm. Or is the OP a public figure or an entertainer?
2. Then ask: What’s the primary purpose of the post? Is the OP sharing sponsored content? (Hint: Look for the #ad hashtag or “sponsored” tag.) Is the post sharing accurate information? (Tip: What are standards-based news outlets reporting on the topic?) Does this person do any original reporting, like contacting sources to gather information, or are they just summarizing reporting done by others?
3. See if the OP follows journalism standards. A set of guidelines commonly used across the news industry is the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics. Does the OP have a track record of following these principles?
Standards-based journalists follow ethical guidelines to keep their reporting as fair and accurate as possible — and yes, these codes of conduct generally apply to their social media accounts too. A standards-based news organization should have its ethics policy posted somewhere on its website.
Some journalists could certainly be considered influencers. Journalists — influencers or not — do maintain standards in their work, like seeking multiple credible sources, independently verifying information, demonstrating an avoidance of bias and providing context around big news. This is different from many news influencers who often just share or comment on the work of journalists without doing original reporting.
So, if social media is a simmering pot of stew, suppose you’re helping your kids identify the ingredients that go into what they’re being served. Those could be the primary purpose of a given post or whether there’s evidence a content creator has followed standards of quality journalism.
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