Why Social Media’s News Feed Is Poisoning Public Trust
- Socialode Team
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Social media was supposed to keep us informed. Endless news. Global access. Instant updates.
But somewhere along the way, the feed became the filter—deciding not just what we see, but what we believe.
A new study from researchers at NYU and Stanford shows that people are far more likely to click on sensational, low-quality news than credible journalism.
The reason ? Algorithms reward engagement, not accuracy.
When anger and shock drive clicks, the truth becomes optional.
The Algorithm’s Addiction to Drama
Every scroll is designed to provoke a reaction from the social media public trust. Posts that make us emotional, whether it’s outrage, disbelief, or excitement, get pushed higher in the feed.
That’s why misinformation spreads faster than real news. It’s not because we want it, it’s because the system feeds it to us.
What started as a tool to connect people has turned into a machine that profits off attention. The more divided we are, the longer we stay online.
The Hidden Cost of the Feed
Scrolling through chaos every day does something to us. It chips away at trust, trust in media, trust in institutions, and even trust in each other.
We don’t just consume the news anymore; we question if any of it’s real.
The result?A generation more informed than ever, but also more cynical, anxious, and unsure who to believe.
We were promised a connection. Instead, we got confusion.
A Crisis of Credibility
Think about it. When every headline competes for your attention, facts take a back seat to feeling.
Outrage gets rewarded. Nuance gets ignored.
It’s no surprise people now trust influencers and “citizen journalists” more than newsrooms. Social media blurred the line between credible reporting and viral opinion, and we’re all paying the price.
The Human Lesson - Social Media and Public Trust
A person scrolls through a glowing phone screen at night, surrounded by distorted news headlines floating in the air. Each headline flashes words like “shocking,” “breaking,” “crisis,” until they fade into static.
That’s what the modern feed feels like: constant noise dressed as information.
It’s overwhelming, addictive, and exhausting.
We don’t need more breaking news. We need more real news.
Signs of Change
Some people are beginning to push back.
Creators are focusing on transparency. Platforms are testing ways to show credibility scores. And more users are choosing newsletters, podcasts, or community-based journalism where authenticity matters more than clicks.
The Future of Connection
Social media doesn’t have to be toxic. But it does need to change.
The fix starts with awareness, understanding how the feed shapes what we see, and deciding what deserves our attention.
Truth shouldn’t have to fight for engagement. And trust shouldn’t be a casualty of the algorithm.
The future of connection depends on rebuilding it, one honest conversation at a time.
