Is Gen Z the most gullible generation?
A recent study has shed light on how skilled the different generations are when it comes to sussing out fake news.
A recent study has shed light on a surprising trend: Gen Z, the digitally native generation, is alarmingly gullible when it comes to detecting fake news online.
Researchers from the Stanford Graduate School of Education conducted a national study of 3,446 American high school students, revealing that Gen Zers struggle to discern fact from fiction on the internet.
The study's findings were sobering, debunking the myth that digital natives are well-equipped to navigate online information.
Instead, Gen Z's reliance on social media as a primary news source has made them vulnerable to misinformation.
Three in five Gen Zers (ages 13–26) get their news from social media weekly, with TikTok being a leading platform.
This lack of critical thinking has led to the spread of conspiracy theories and fabricated news.
Gen Zers are growing sceptical of institutions and mainstream news outlets, turning to niche online communities that feed them tailored misinformation.
ALSO READ: POPIA updates: New rules for telemarketers
The consequences can be grim, as seen in recent misinformation "trends" on TikTok and other social media platforms.
The issue is systemic and it's not just Gen Z that's affected. People of all ages struggle to make sense of the overwhelming amount of online information.
According to Joel Breakstone, director of the Stanford History Education Group, "We need to figure out ways to support people, to find better ways to make sense of the content that streams across their devices."
The solution lies in education and critical thinking. We need to train students to be better consumers of information, teaching them to evaluate sources, identify biases and recognise the dangers of misinformation.
Only then can we hope to break the cycle of gullibility and promote a more informed, critically thinking generation.
HOW TO LISTEN TO EAST COAST RADIO
1. Listen to East Coast Radio on the FM (frequency modulation) spectrum between 94 and 95 FM on your radio.
2. Listen live to ECR by clicking here or download the ECR App (iOS/Android).
3. Listen to East Coast Radio on the DStv audio bouquet, channel 836.
4. Switch to the audio bouquet on your Openview decoder and browse to channel 606.
5. Listen to us on Amazon Alexa.
Follow us on social media:
Image courtesy of iStock
Have a similar story or something unique to share? Email us at [email protected], we would love to hear from you!