We’ve all been lied to before; in fact, we’ve gotten used to it. Like, during Thanksgiving, when your dear Uncle John gives his ‘expert’ analysis of the country’s politics, proving how Kanye West is the second coming of Christ and will save our country. Yeah, it’s best to take these things with a grain of salt. But did you know your beloved peers here at CORE Butte may be just as, if not more, deceiving?

Ok, that might be a stretch, but a survey conducted by CORE Insider found that ~21% of CORE students primarily get their news from friends and family. Yes, that means about 1/5 of our students are fully trusting of those closest to them, even if those closest to them may be getting one-shotted by AI slop or lobotomized by Uncle John.

But never fear! For the most popular area, our students get their news from the most accurate, trustworthy, focus-building source out there: social media. The survey concluded that ~38% of our peers go to various platforms for a scoop of “reality.” Unfortunately, that’s a hard thing to find. Social media tends to push the most viral and polarizing content to users, often sacrificing accuracy for clicks. While the Rizzler, 6-7 kid, and other creators may be perfect, caring, and genuine in your eyes, the heartbreaking truth is that they would probably sell your soul for some ad revenue. 

What about the mainstream news channels? Are these just reserved for dads to get angry at on the couch, beer in hand? As it turns out, no. 31% of our students watch mainstream TV news to get their fix. That said, “Mainstream media” has lost credibility across parties. This is especially true for Republicans, where, according to Gallup News, only 11% trusting information from the so-called “mainstream.” Generally, these platforms don’t lie directly, but it’s a good idea to watch for potential bias.

The remaining 10% of students choose to use Google and check multiple different sources, and generally get a more complete picture of what happened. Although you may be seen as a huge nerd, it’s always a good idea to check your sources and verify the information yourself.