Majority of social media influencers don't verify information before sharing it, study finds

[bhikkhu]

1. People don't question their "in" group, especially when they're low-tier members

Which is something I never really understood. I almost never just accept things people tell me, and I'll usually fact-check things I hear in conversation that don't seem likely. My ex-wife used to get very mad at me for that, as she considered it insulting and arrogant (especially when I didn't just accept her statements).

I always tried to be like a guy in college myself, where any statement you make in a class might be questioned; best practice when taking a position is to have your facts and references ready, in case you're challenged. I always enjoyed it when I was questioned, as it meant someone was interested and cared about the facts of the matter, and then I'd get to make the argument effectively. Just saying stuff was, in a way, a probe to see if anyone really cared about a topic.

To a lot of people it seems like the facts aren't the point at all, the point is the personal connection, the loyalty, the public demonstrations of fealty or whatever you want to call it. Possibly blind acceptance of a position without applying any type of verification or critical thinking is itself the kind of behavior that cements you as a useful "in" member.