April 7th, 2025

Major news organizations have been struggling to keep their head above water over the past several months. Some have shut down completely, unable to adapt to this new digital world. Some, however, have embraced it, but not without controversy.

Fears regarding media favoritism and hidden agendas have grown as news organizations focus more on what gains attention. Media outlets must frame issues a certain way to appease advertisers and shareholders. There have also been reports of advertisers having a heavy hand in the writing of the article, disguising an ad as a legitimate piece of news.

Bias has also become more prominent, as news organizations strive to keep their most loyal followers. According to a July 2022 survey, 50% of Americans felt that there was so much bias it was difficult to determine what information was factual and what was not. And while, back in 2016, social media was seen as an untrustworthy source of information, more and more people have been turning to it so they can hear events the way they want to hear them.

Alarmingly, there has also been an increased focus on sensational and graphic stories, using them to generate more engagement and attention. Because of the nature of social media, anyone can post anything at any time. So, when a violent crime is committed and there is video or photographic evidence of it, it will often be uploaded online for all to see.

Because of the spread of misinformation and violence online, there have been calls to regulate social media. While these pleas have mostly gone to major tech companies, more and more people are suggesting that the government step in. While there have been moves to do so in the past, it has faced legal challenges on the basis of free speech. As such content spreads, however, it may be a matter of time before laws are put in place to stop the downward spiral news outlets appear to be in.