The concept of how people now acquire news and other important bits of information goes beyond just being timely. It encompasses a whole new trend of digitalized information processing and consumption. The fact that social media has experienced immense growth to a position of supremacy in how individuals stay updated and participate in events denotes a major paradigm shift in the relationship between people and news (Smithsonian p.6). Others are of the opinion that Twitter has become the newspaper of today. However, the content on Twitter might be considered deficient, uninformative and unreliable for specific reasons.
First and foremost, Twitter stands out due to its short-lived news and powerful visuals. It plays a crucial role in presenting news and real-time updates. It is the 280-character limit for tweets that catalyzes the exchange of short pieces of information, and such has an impact on the developing media’s need for shorter news snippets. Such is the case on Twitter, where a modern way of presenting traditional newspaper articles having headlines and short but interesting content can be appreciated. Another important factor is that Twitter’s large user base, along with getting more options such as following stakeholders in news, journalists and organizations, gives you the capability to receive a wide spectrum of stories and controversies (Smithsonian p.6). This one provides a feature that enables users to produce personalized news feeds in the same way that a newspaper set subscription would work.
Nevertheless, the coherence of Twitter content and informal style in the presentation can be considered as the drawback in the view of the complete examination and background given. Artistically, it is being accused of being a publication of false information as users can freely share news without proper fact-checking, though they are inaccurate. According to the podcast by CBC, the question of the trustworthiness and credibility of reports that are spread on Twitter is a serious one, and it thereby raises the problem of how Twitter as a medium can be a substitute for newspapers as the primary source of news for the public (Wexler p 4). The Twitter algorithm feed and the tendency to show trending subjects in the main window, on the other hand, might contribute to the intensification and polarization of news stories with sensational characters. It often leads to misinformation, the overvaluation of a specific story, and the elision of a critical voice that does not make it to the headlines. In contrast, newspapers have a long-standing reputation for thorough investigative journalism and balanced reporting, which is difficult to maintain in the fast-paced environment of social media.
The subject of the article on CBC’s Sunday Edition podcast, “TMI: How Reading Online is Hurting Our Brains”, is the effects of online reading on our brainpower and concentration. The podcast focuses on the issues pertaining to the consumption of news on digital platforms, where such (phenomenon) opens the way for the reduction in the practice of careful reading and critical thinking. This podcast could be outside of the direct debate between Twitter and newspaper topples, but it does raise issues regarding the quality of news consumption online. Apart from the fact that Twitter is attractive and dynamic, it often needs to act as a viable substitute for conventional newspapers. A Pew Research Center study revealed that Twitter is a predominant news source for a vast majority of US citizens; however, it is often seen as a supplementary one and not excellent for primary news. Among the findings is the fact that more people still tend to rely on traditional news outlets, such as TV and newspapers, for more trustworthy news.
In summary, Twitter offers a platform that is swift and includes diverse voices, which makes it a useful resource for news consumption. However, it has limitations in offering full news coverage, and the irrelevance of certain sources makes its credibility questionable. With the digital space undergoing such constant changes, it will be important to discern between online media’s strengths and weaknesses and have a critical attitude when consuming news.
Works Cited
CBC. “Too Long Didn’t Read – How Reading Online is Hurting Our Brains.” Sunday Edition, CBC, 2024. Podcast.
Wexler, Adam. “Twitter: A Brief Exploration of its Impact on News Consumption.” The Daily Chronicle, 5 May 2017.
Smithsonian. “Editorials.” Smithsonian Magazine. www.smithsonianmag.com. Accessed 14 Mar. 2024.
Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing. “Winners & Finalists.” www.pulitzer.org. Accessed 14 Mar. 2024.
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