'They Say': A Dangerous New Trend In Information Consumption

Imagine this scene: two people engaged in a conversation. One asserts, "Eating rice makes you fat," to which the other counters, "What makes you say so?" The response follows, “Because that's what ‘they say’."

Welcome to the digital age, where social media is a black hole of life-altering advice. Advice like this is floating online and offline and is often provided by self-proclaimed experts who have gained visibility on platforms like Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. These individuals usually lack formal qualifications or substantial expertise but attract attention through charismatic presentation and trendiness.  

The Rise Of The Unverified Expert 

The barriers to becoming an ‘expert’ have dramatically lowered. Social media is now a place where people can become experts overnight. A captivating profile picture and skilful use of engaging content and timely topics can quickly attract a substantial following. This following, in turn, gives an individual a sense of authority and credibility, regardless of their actual qualifications or experience in a given subject. 

These self-proclaimed experts use their online influence to provide guidance and advice across a wide range of topics. Their recommendations often carry significant weight among their followers, from offering fitness regimens and financial strategies to advocating mental health techniques and even suggesting medical treatments. However, the critical issue lies in the lack of substantiation and validation for much of this advice. 

Unlike traditional experts who typically undergo rigorous education, training, and validation through peer-reviewed research and professional standards, these online personalities may lack such foundations. Their advice often lacks scientific validation or thorough scrutiny by established experts in their respective fields. Instead, it may be based on personal anecdotes, popular trends, or even misinformation propagated within online communities. 

The Risks of Blindly Following ‘They Say’

The consequences of unquestioningly following advice from unverified sources can be dire. It's like taking medical advice from a guy who's really good at applying Instagram filters—sure, it looks good, but does it actually work? 

Individuals may compromise their health by adopting diets or fitness routines not suited to their specific needs. Mental health tips given by unqualified individuals could make conditions worse. Yet, despite these pitfalls, many individuals defend their choices with a shrug and 'They say it works''.  It's like they've traded critical thinking for convenience, preferring what's easy and trendy over what's legit! 

The spread of this unverified advice contributes to a broader environment of misinformation. It undermines the credibility of verified experts and reputable sources, potentially eroding public trust in established institutions and accurate information. 

The Importance Of Verification 

Before you make any decisions based on the advice you receive online, it's important to take a few steps to be safe. 

1. Check credentials: Make sure the person has the right education, certifications, and work experience. 
2. Get peer reviews: Ask other experts in the same field for their opinions. 
3. Use trusted sources: Get information from well-known organisations, certified experts, and reliable books or articles. 
4. Think critically: Think carefully about the advice. Does it make sense? What are the risks? Is it supported by reliable information? 

The Harmful Community of ‘They Say’

‘They Say’ gang is like a rumour mill on steroids—spreading unverified info faster than gossip at a family reunion. The ripple effect can lead to public harm, eroding trust in reliable information sources and compromising societal well-being. 

It's up to us to be careful when we read things online. Following advice from self-proclaimed experts without checking if they really know their stuff can be really risky. We need to be smart about who we trust and what we believe online. 

To safeguard against misinformation, we must prioritise information obtained from credible experts and trusted sources. If we encourage people to think carefully and check facts instead of just believing everything they hear, we can reduce the damage caused by following rumours. In the end, our society gets stronger when people care more about getting things right than just going along with what's popular but not necessarily true. 

Let's work together to fight false information by sticking to facts and ensuring reliable information shines online.  

Before you buy into the next ‘life-changing’ advice, ask yourself: Does this sound too good to be true? Is this person more famous for their selfies than their expertise? In the battle against bad advice, verification is your superhero cape. Trust, but verify, because your health, wealth, and sanity depend on it.  

Shiraz Khan

Guest Author The author is Designation, Founder, SpiceTree Design Agency