Maybe I talked too much about blueberry pie. Maybe it was that watercolor I did of the mixed fruit. Whatever the reason, I’ve been getting a lot of articles about blueberries in my news feed this month.
“Blueberries are NOT a superfood”
“Top Cardiologists say STOP eating blueberries before this happens!”
“Warning! Here is what happens if you eat blueberries every day.”
After seeing these sorts of headlines appear for a few days, I paused for a moment. Was there something about blueberries I didn’t know? Just think of the implications for Sal!
I did a google search. “Blueberry health risks” - (And I made sure to toggle the “web” choice - I wanted to see websites and articles on the subject, not what Google’s AI has to say.)
I found an article from 2023 from Parade called “What Happens to Your Body if You Eat Blueberries Every Day, According to a Registered Dietitian” that may have been the seed for all of this blueberry banter. Although it says that blueberries are healthy, it also says that eating them in pies, smoothies, and other sweets is less healthy. It also says if you eat too many that, you will get too much fiber, and that can cause gastrointestinal issues. A few other articles voiced similar concerns. Also, like most things, some people are allergic to various components.
I can’t say I was particularly surprised by any of these things, but the whole thing got me thinking about bias and misinformation.
Say you really hate blueberries. Really hate them. And you have this aunt who keeps telling you how great they are. You are scrolling along and see one of these articles, and the next time your aunt tells you, “Oh, you should start your day with a blueberry smoothie,” you say, “Actually, I read online that blueberries aren’t good for you.” I mean, that was what those headlines were saying, wasn’t it?
Your aunt isn’t sure you are right, but she figures better safe than sorry. She tells the person at the smoothie shop, who tells the next three customers who order a Blueberry Blast, and suddenly, we have a full-on case of blueberry slander!
The trouble is that it is not just blueberries that people publish articles like this about. It is retailers and restaurants, celebrities and politicians, groups and organizations, states and countries. And we are much more vulnerable to misinformation when the news matches the opinions we already hold.
There are people out there who write headlines to be deliberately biased, sometimes as clickbait to drive up profits, sometimes to further a certain social or political agenda, and sometimes to cause arguments between people. We have to be responsible about the things we share with each other especially on social media, because virality is a thing.
Before you repeat or share something, stop and think about it.
- Check the source - Is it a news site you have heard of before? Is it a site written for entertainment or sharing opinions rather than news?
- Assess the author’s purpose - This goes hand in hand with the first - and I admit it is not easy to tell. But if it is an article about the dangers of gas stoves and the writer is an electric stove manufacturer, it should raise some red flags. Word choice and tone can help here too. Are they trying to amuse you, inform you, or fire you up to tell the world the dangers of gas stoves? (Or blueberries, for that matter).
- See if you can verify it elsewhere - Most of us have news sites we trust. The Associated Press (AP) and Reuters are generally considered to be among the most unbiased. If something seems outrageous, check with other news sites to confirm. If it is true, it should show up in more than one place
Whatever you share, some of the people watching your social media feed will only read the headline. If the headline is misleading, but you still want to share the information, you may wish to pick another source.
Here are some books in our collection that can help you assess sources:
You can also check out our online resources. Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints (found on our Reference & Research List) includes a brief overview of various subjects along with some critical thinking questions, then lists recent articles from a variety of sources that cover those subjects from multiple viewpoints, allowing all of us to challenge our biases.
Good luck out there!
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