By Melanie Cabrera, Elizabeth Gonzalez, Adriana Garcia

Elections in the United States tend to be characterized by constant political ads, posters of candidates in every street, and a number of campaigns in the weeks before voting takes place. In recent years, however, much of the actions have been centered around social media. 

According to the non-partisan company AdImpact, it’s projected that over 9.7 billion dollars will be spent in campaign ads during the midterm elections, much of it taking place online. With midterm elections being held on November 8, having the skills to navigate a digital landscape is crucial for voters, especially those casting a ballot for the first time. 

Yet, despite the increasing number of people on social media, recent studies show that most still lack digital literacy skills.

In 2019, the Stanford History Education Group conducted a study analyzing the ability of students to interpret online content. The students struggled to determine whether online sources were trustworthy and if grainy videos could be considered credible sources of information, among other tasks. They generally took unknown sources at face value and trusted them without doing outside research. 

In total, the study reported that “ninety percent [of participants] received no credit on four of six tasks.”

Not everything that is presented on social media is true. When consumers struggle to access the credibility of digital media, they are at risk of spreading or receiving false information and having their emotions manipulated by people intentionally spreading fake news. 

The months leading up to important elections tend to see a rise in the spread of false or exaggerated news, particularly towards certain political candidates or parties. False news, especially during voting season, can create divisions between voters and candidates and increase bias towards certain groups or candidates. 

It is key for voters to fact-check what they are reading about the candidates to avoid voting for the wrong person.

Fake news can be anywhere, making it important for people to use credible sources so that they can be well-informed and prepared to make the best decisions for themselves.