Online News Media And The Issue Of Ethics, Credibility And Information Overload: A Study

Abstract

Online News Media And The Issue Of Ethics, Credibility And Information Overload: A Study
The world has transformed into a global village where access to information can be gained instantaneously, mostly due to the rise of the internet and social media which has had tremendous impact on human life changing the existing models of information and news consumption. Social media has provided a platform that has emerged as an easy-to-use application offering space to the consumers and the producers of news, leading to the rise of social media news networks. The move to an increasingly digital, mobile and social media environment coupled with intense competition for attention while mostly being financed by advertising revenues, raises questions over one’s credibility and its relevance in today’s tech savvy world. While Arunachal Pradesh is yet to see internet connectivity across its entire landscape, it has witnessed tremendous growth in the amount of news networks on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter creating a situation where too much news is arriving in too many different formats, creating a potential for information overload, misinformation and disinformation. The current paper discusses the issues of credibility that comes along with social media news networks, where it is no longer enough to be first with the news, nor comprehensive or trustworthy, but capable of spreading virally. The study further investigates the relevance of news networks among the users of social media. The methodology applied for data collection involves survey research method, where questionnaires were administered to the users of social media. The study reveal that users found it easier to access news faster in social media and sharing of news much easier but at the other end the credibility most of the time hangs in the middle.