Friday Feature: How Too Much News Fosters Fake News

Ever feel overwhelmed by information? A recent study suggests that that feeling, often exacerbated by social media, can be part of a vicious circle. A flood of information can make it harder for us to be discriminating about what we believe (and what we share), perpetuating the spread of information that is, shall we say, less than reliable.

Strangely enough, the problem and the cure are one and the same. Only by gathering more information -- checking sources, reading carefully (or simply reading beyond the headline, in some cases) -- can we make sure that the news that we're sharing is information rather than misinformation.

Or, to quote Eldridge Cleaver, "There is no more neutrality in the world. You either have to be part of the solution, or you're going to be part of the problem."

I know which side I hope to land on. Unfortunately, that means a bit less Twitter and a bit more critical thinking.