Although these new media are fast and efficient, they lack the filter that old media were constructed on. On a daily basis, students are flooded with information that is generally accepted without a second thought. Gossip and rumors can turn into news that spreads like wildfire across social media. There have been countless times when celebrities have been reported dead when, in actuality, they are alive and well. This lack of verification can be detrimental to how we obtain our news. “I love reading BuzzFeed, but sometimes I don’t know how biased it is because anyone can post on it,” said Elon University sophomore Isabel Sackner-Bernstein. Community posters can be people of all ages, occupations and education, which makes it difficult to trust the news they post. Although some people are skeptical, sophomore Rachael Siegel-Berele said, “I like twitter and BuzzFeed because the news is easy to find and the fastest way to get information.”
“If I don’t think something is true I will cross reference it with another site,” Siegel-Berele said. Some students recognize the need to reference other sites, while others will just accept the information given to them. Elon School of Communications Professor Leah Totten feels that these instant media give celebrities and entertainment news “more importance than is needed.”
“Because we are constantly updated on celebrities’ lives we feel they are more important than they are. Give the focus and importance to people who deserve it,” Totten said.