Social media may be ‘fundamentally at odds’ with science

[IndigoSalvia]

Just one comment. Trusting the scientific method is not the same as trusting scientists or science orgs. Social media and their algos is certainly a huge problem in the world today which encompasses a wide spectrum of issues.

I really like this point you make. 

My dear teenager comes to me, and shares a piece of news he has seen on social media. With this generation, often times peers may be seen as experts. This is my opportunity to teach critical analysis, much to my teen's chagrin. 

I took a class in graduate school which was Logic and Critical Thinking. Hands down, my favorite class. IMHO, it should be taught much earlier on. So I have taken it upon myself to teach my kid how to critically look at quantitative and qualitative data, the source, the methods ... pull back the curtain and see what's behind it. 

One can manipulate data to convey almost anything one wants. While some may be doing this consciously for monetary reasons, etc. Others may do it unconsciously just bringing in their own biases. 

Recently, my son brought me an article, which was laden with emotionally-charged language that clearly intended to spark an emotional response. 

Separating the science from the scientist ... There is the fly on the wall observing and then relating what it observed. Certainly, what the "fly" interprets and presents will contain the fly's biases. We are all flies on the wall here. 

And then let's add the veil for good measure, and what we think we know is not even the whole story. 

Subjectivity and resonance is IMHO kinda the name of the game here in 3D. What do I gravitate toward? What do I move away from?