For many young people today, social media is the place to go to for information on what’s going on throughout the world. People think watching a 30-second Facebook video summarizing a highly complex criminal trial, or a new technology that’s going to revolutionize the world is enough to educate themselves on that subject. I think that’s a lackadaisical approach to the news.
What most young people don’t realize is that everything you see being shared on Facebook or Twitter is just a condensed version of what newspapers print and broadcasters discuss, but much quicker and simpler. There are countless news worthy events going on every day, but a lot of people are more interested in goofy videos of dogs swimming in pools or a woman creating a perfect contour with cake-like makeup.
Don’t get me wrong, I love those sped up cooking videos on Facebook a bit too much, but it seems like our generation’s attention isn’t going toward the right things.
I understand those silly videos are enjoyable and the news can be dry, but news isn’t supposed to be fun all the time. A lot of the time it can be dull and hard to follow. However, that doesn’t mean that it should be ignored. Being on top of current events is one of the greatest gifts we have in this day and age. We’ve grown up with the most technologically advanced devices in history. We have some of the greatest journalists and scientists researching parts of the world that have never been discovered, finding new species of animals and using the power of media to take down corrupt figures.
This is the time of our lives when what’s going on in the world should matters to us. Closely following current events through newspapers or television broadcasts is the easiest way to gain knowledge without picking up a book or attending class. Simply reading articles from the New York Times or Boston Globe is enough to increase your intelligence and become aware of what’s going on outside your own life.
Watching a quick video and sharing it to your friends shouldn’t be the end of a subject. If you see something that interests you in one of those speedy videos, try to find out more about it. Learn the details and follow the story through some news outlet. This generation has the most opportunity compared to those of the past and a lot of valuable resources are being ignored because people are getting lazy.
If you’re a college student, chances are you can get discounted subscriptions to certain newspapers either in print or online. Personally, I subscribe to the New York Times and pay only four dollars a month for unlimited online access as well as the phone application. The app will alert you of all breaking news that happens throughout the world. The NBC News app is free in the iTunes store and has the same breaking news feature.
Newspaper’s Facebook pages are really great to follow too. They’re constantly posting and sharing articles that might pique your curiosity and open your eyes to something brand new.
With social media, access to newspapers is much easier than before because you don’t need to read a physical paper. You have all the news you need at your fingertips, so use them and learn something new each day.
Email Laura Schmidt at opinions@cardinalpointsonline.com
