Misinformation Runs Rampant as Political Tensions Rise

On November 5, US voters go to the polls to elect the next president of the United States. As election season tensions build, so do stress, extremism, and confusion. Social media and even news channels are clogged with misleading information, bias, and subjectivity. Before Americans move to cast their votes, it is important that they elect the candidate who reflects their views, and serves the best interests of the country. 

Kamala Harris, the current vice president of the United States, is a politician and attorney. She is the first female to serve as vice president, and she is the Democratic Party’s nominee for the upcoming election. 

Donald Trump served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017-2021. He was a businessman and television personality before entering the realm of politics. He is the Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential election. 

Most individuals have some knowledge of these candidates and their ideals. However, between the politicization of news and the increasing divide between the Democratic and Republican parties, it can be difficult to understand what the candidates intend to do if they are elected. 

Starting with economic policy, Harris has made a clear effort to appeal to working-class Americans. From the Democratic National Convention to the presidential debate in September, she has identified and marketed herself to the middle class. On multiple occasions, Harris has emphasized her vision of an “opportunity economy.” 

Harris makes numerous claims about the policies she intends to put in place if elected: cut taxes for working-class families, make rent and home ownership more affordable, nurture small businesses, bring down the cost of health care, invest in quality education, strengthen social security and Medicare, and tackle the climate crisis. 

Both campaigns state their intention to lower costs in America and support the middle class.  Trump wants to lower the tax rate for everyone in the United States.  He focuses more on inflation, saying, “inflation will not magically disappear while policies remain the same.” 

His campaign’s website shares more information about his plans: use energy sources like fossil fuels to power the country, reduce wasteful federal spending, secure the border to prevent illegal immigration, and restore geopolitical stability. 

Both candidates' websites provided a list of the steps they would take to better the economy, but Harris’s claims in this realm were clearer. 

Harris’s solution for the border crisis is rather simple. If elected, she intends to bring back the bipartisan border security bill (which failed to pass when Trump pushed against it) and sign it into law. She believes that the US immigration system is damaged, and needs comprehensive reform that includes strong border security and an earned pathway to citizenship.

Donald Trump said that he would complete the border wall, move a large amount of federal law enforcement to the border, strengthen ICE, reinstate past border policies such as “Remain in Mexico,” and put American workers first in the face of the crisis. 

Abortion is a very prominent topic following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which gave the states the power to decide whether or not abortions are lawful. 

Harris’s campaign supports abortion rights adamantly and believes that women should always have the option to make choices about their bodies. It said that she will never allow a national abortion ban, and "when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide, she will sign it.” 

It is hard to tell exactly what Trump’s opinion is on abortion. He has made contradicting claims in the past. His current stance is that the decision should remain with the states. His vice-presidential nominee, JD Vance, said that Trump would veto a national abortion ban. 

Harris wants Americans to be free from the fear of gun violence. She intends to ban assault weapons, require universal background checks, and support red flag laws. Trump openly supports gun ownership but does not make a detailed claim on the policies he intends to put in place to defend the right to bear arms. It is safe to assume that Harris and Trump will take their party's side on the issue of gun control and ownership. 

Generally, Harris’s policies reflect progressive ideals with a mix of some centrist pragmatism. Trump’s policies are marked by conservative and nationalist positions, with an “America First” approach to both foreign and domestic issues. 

All of this information was easy to find. There are nuances, and candidates may not always mean what they say, or be able to deliver on it. But why is it so difficult to find simple, untainted information today? 
The world today exists in an age of misinformation. Any information shared online can be contradicted just as easily as it can be provided. 

One large source of misinformation is a lack of critical thinking when it comes to digesting information. For example, people will often Google a term, person, or event, and accept the first result they are given. This is Google’s attempt to come up with one answer, but it is not always reliable. Google’s automated systems determine which page will make a good featured snippet for a specific search request. All the sources that appear on the first page of the search results that show up are based on something called Search Engine Optimization, which is more concerned with keywords, the amount the source is shared, and relevancy rather than the accuracy of the information.

This is an example of how algorithms in general are not based on truth or fact. Simply, algorithms boost videos, articles, or other media that garners the most attention and clicks, not what is most reliable. 

Nowadays, anyone with a camera and microphone can start a podcast and speak in an authoritative voice, and many viewers will believe them without question. People like to think they have logical reasoning behind why they choose to trust these people, but these beliefs are fueled by emotional bias. 

Even a single characteristic of a person will impact our perception of them, giving a viewer more incentive to believe something online just because they see a flashy thumbnail. If a person making a video can present themselves in a way that associates them with the thing they are trying to promote, and if they can use body language and specific words to make themselves sound believable, it is easy to fall into the trap of misinformation. 

When an individual is not aware of how their biases impact their perception of the truth, they can be quickly convinced of something completely false. There are numerous people online who will post something extreme, or even blatantly false, because they know it will attract more attention. 

The internet and creators on social media profit from creating extreme content, because that garners the most attention. Some see this and are quick to assume that we are doomed to continue in a downwards spiral. That is far from the truth. There are ways to think meaningfully about information and the right way to get it.

First, never trust a single source. When researching a topic, however big or small, do not just accept the things the first source on the page states. Dig deeper, and try to find more information about the topic. There is a lot of appeal in simply watching a minute-long TikTok video instead of taking the extra step to do proper research. Don’t fall for it. Put in the effort to recognize the complexities of information before adopting it as a permanent belief. 

Avoid cognitive biases, like confirmation bias, similarity bias, and anchoring bias. Cognitive biases are a systematic thought process that is caused by the habit of the human brain to want to process information faster, often at the expense of critical thought. In this way, individuals will draw on personal preferences or preconceptions before clear logic. 

Lastly, it is important to see what the other side of an issue is saying. Forming opinions is important, but not when it makes an individual close themselves off to other ways of thinking. Being constantly surrounded by the same views will not stimulate growth, healthy disagreement, or a deeper level of thinking. Additionally, the other side of the spectrum is not automatically wrong. Making black-and-white assumptions and associating political beliefs with good and bad is reactionary, and it is crucial to analyze multiple points of information before forming a short-sighted conclusion.

Why should anyone care about politics? Most of the time, the news can seem depressing, overwhelming, and distant. However, apathy is a dangerous thing, and it is important to take an interest in current events, even if they do not seem immediately relevant. 

The ability to ignore the politics of this country is a privilege. Most of the decisions made by those in power will not affect individuals in a higher social position but will affect society as a whole. 

Everyone benefits from living in a society where most, if not all of the population, are happy and have a chance at success, even if those benefits are not direct or apparent. 

Staying informed takes effort, but anything that makes real change is challenging. If you want to shape the nation you live in, keep yourself informed, and be smart about the way you do it.