24-Hour Media Diary

24-Hour Media Diary

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

• I checked the Associated Press (AP) Newswire for the latest updates on the Trump Administration. Read an article about the newest automobile taxes, and all the information matched what I heard Trump deliver at his executive order signing

• I opened TikTok and scrolled through the For You Page (FYP). Came across a video from the Daily Mail about a blue spiral in the sky, and was skeptical.

• Fact-Check: I was able to find a supporting article from CNN, with a reasonable explanation concerning a SpaceX launch and atmospheric temperature. 

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

• Listened to The Daily podcast by The New York Times discussing the U.S. economy’s inflation trends. Provided sourced data and expert analysis. No questionable content.

• Continued scrolling TikTok. A video by @wellness_guru promoted a "miracle" detox tea that "flushes out all toxins and leads to 10 lbs weight loss in a week."

  
  

  

  
  

• Fact-checking: This was a sponsored post, already diminishing it’s credibility because the creator was payed to post it. Checked Mayo Clinic and WebMD. Detox teas are not scientifically proven to work as claimed and can be harmful. The video lacked medical evidence and had affiliate links, making it unreliable.

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

• Watched The Broski Report newsletter by Brittany Broski. The humor-driven recap of pop culture and news referenced trending topics but included opinionated takes. No major misinformation but required discernment between facts and commentary.

  
  

  

  
  

• TikTok feed: Saw a post claiming the multi-million dollar animatronic in Walt Disney World’s ride Na’vi River Journey was being taken away/replaced.

• Fact-checking: Upon searching other TikTok videos with facts/information about the animatronic and Disney-focused blogs online like Mousehacking.com, it is true that the animatronic is occasionally taken from the ride for maintenance purposes and replaced by a temporary ‘B mode,’ which features a screen with a projection of the character. The animatronic is not being permanently altered and this post was mostly inaccurate.

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Listened to The Journal podcast by The Wall Street Journal about tech layoffs. Cited employment statistics and expert insights. Reliable source.

• TikTok scrolling: A TikTok Shop video claimed drinking chlorophyll water prevents cancer and boosts energy.

• Fact-checking: Checked Harvard Health and NIH. Chlorophyll is not proven to prevent cancer, and claims were exaggerated. The creator sold supplements, indicating financial bias.w

Reflection:Over 24 hours, I encountered more questionable content than expected, primarily on social media. Misinformation often came from influencers or accounts with financial incentives rather than credible news organizations. Memes and viral posts tended to exaggerate or distort facts, particularly in pop-culture topics that generate quite a bit of online traction. I noticed that I was more inclined to fact-check sensational claims rather than everyday news, revealing a bias in my skepticism. Moving forward, I will continue verifying questionable content, especially when it lacks sources or comes from influencers with profit motives.