You’re going to need to be vigilant about fact checking the information you come across. Meta (FB, Insta, WhatsApp), X/Twitter, TikTok are all fascist mouthpieces at this point, and you don’t have to use those services directly yourself for the messages they amplify to reach you.
Don’t just be suspicious of those messages you oppose. Be as suspicious of rage-bait, and messages you are already primed to agree with. This is how propaganda works: by taking advantage of what people already want to believe.
If you can’t find decent sources about the thing you’re seeking to verify, set that thing aside. If you can find one source, or the same story being repeated multiple places, be skeptical. Be aware that early reporting on events as they unfold can easily be wrong in ways that impact the accuracy of the reporting, even if the story is substantially true as a whole.
Information gaps - where one party has more, or more accurate, information than another party - are how power is leveraged. When you take steps to be factually accurate, in line with objective reality, you are shrinking the power of those who would like to control you.
I know I’m late to this but this is a fantastic post, and a really important idea to remember at a time like this
Especially given we’re on a platform with a more narrow range of political perspectives, so messages you agree with are very likely to spread here, and sometimes, like any message with emotional intensity, they’ll be wrong or misleading
You’re never late, and don’t let anyone make you feel like your participation isn’t important because they knew about something before you did. Thank you.
Thank you, I appreciate that :)
I think it’s mostly just habit from forum culture where necroposting brings back old forum threads that aren’t relevant anymore or whatever
With all of that being said, shouldn’t I be wary of what YOU say? 🤔
Absolutely. If I’m factually wrong, correct me. If you sincerely disagree, let’s hear it. I have a very strong preference for being factually accurate, and basing my conclusions on reality. I appreciate and encourage being corrected or challenged. Bring receipts.
My whole thing is look at all perspectives raw, and for some reason that upsets people. If you’re just a small mix of skeptical and smart, you can read sources and differentiate how each source is going to dramatize and propagate
For example:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/22/politics/trump-immigration-blitz/index.html
If you read through the 2 articles, you get the same story dramatized in 2 different lights, but the fact of the matter is that A) Trump kept his promise to tighten security on immigration with prejudice, and B) It is quickly on it’s way to an (e)immigration crisis. However neither of those things means that all peoples are in danger.
However neither of those things means that all peoples are in danger.
Neither of those things alone, but none of this is happening in a vacuum. The trend line for Trump is that he’s going to do whatever he wants, so will his sycophants (1500 of which were just pardoned of trying to literally overturn an election for Trump), regardless of legality, and nobody is going to be able to stop them.
Tarrio is promising retribution, “using the next four years to set us up for 100 years.” Andy Ogles (R-TN) put forward a bill to change presidential term limits to three so that Trump can run again in 2028. Trump is revoking security for officials he doesn’t like. He’s nominated a cabinet full of “Who would be the worst person to head this department?”
Blinders off, big picture, shit is getting real.
This isn’t new and it doesn’t just apply to memes. Even “news” sites are and have been showing garbage headlines for a very long time.
Anytime I see outrageous shit it only takes a few seconds of looking around to see that it was worded specifically to push an agenda, not to inform the reader.
Agree I was just commenting elsewhere when someone replied to a “news meme” with “damn I wonder if this is true”
It’s like…go look it up? Never just trust a meme
