The myth of research through social media

There are people believing themselves to do “research” through social media.  What they then view and read is treated as more reliable than real scientists’ conclusions.  The main problem is that anyone can upload anything on the Net.  Is it not conscious lies the person may have misjudged.  Some seem not to spend a thought at the later possibility.

Then there is the increased amount of AI generated content.  AI still does not seem to have any common sense.  The result is texts being more or less incoherent.  Or images getting details which don’t hold up.  There are too many or too few of something in a certain number.  Things needing to be held up can appear to hover too.  When it creates moving images such things can also change.  Or not change when they should.  If one does not notice such one could very well get fooled.  Same thing if someone has never him- or herself observed how things happen.

In addition there comes the lopsided selection which social media creates.  Their algorithms are constructed to provide more of the same.  This creates an illusion of consensus which does not exist.  Alternatively they are constructed to promote content provoking strong reactions.  This creates an image of things being much worse.  Overall people get the wrong impression of what is normal.  Opinions and events can be statistically unusual.  However, social media makes them appear as the norm.

How can we then know what is normal?  There could be surveys not limited to only a few.  A larger number of individuals are then selected to be asked.  At best they should be as representative for different characteristics as possible.  These individuals are phoned and may answer different questions.  We can then see how many gives different types of answers.  In the same way it is possible to have vital statistics.  For examples it can show how large fraction of a group which really work.  That no-one would do this is a common over-generalisation.

I want to point out that real scientists observe reality themselves.  To the extent it is possible it is directly observed.  If they can conduct experiments they involve the real thing.  The result of observations and experiments are called data.  From these it is possible to draw logical conclusions.  Do a scientist make an error other scientists may point this out.  In this way knowledge arises which is accumulated though generations.  A less laborious way of finding such knowledge is through popular scientific literature.  Such statements I trust as long as they fit together with each other.

 

Uploaded on the 23rd of April 2026.