Why You Should Stop Trusting Twitter

[RyGuy45]

This comes up from time to time but still always

[h2]Why You Should Stop Trusting Twitter[/h2]
Though we’ve only had it for a few years, it’s already hard to picture a world without Twitter. The simple social network is the Information Age equivalent of crack, allowing us instant access to thoughts and facts from millions of people all across the world. Almost every piece of news breaks on Twitter first. Sometimes, during particularly embarrassing lapses of judgement, news breaks because of Twitter. This one simple website gives us an unprecedented level of access to the world.

There’s just one problem with Twitter: People are stupid.

This story starts Monday, the day the NFL lockout ended. The Internet was buzzing with rumors at 10pm, when undrafted college players could begin officially negotiating with NFL teams.

On a message board I frequent, one user (Matt Elliott) made a fake tweet about linebacker Mark Herzlich joining the Baltimore Ravens. Another user (Chris Field) believed the lie and posted it on Twitter, where it was retweeted by @NEPatriotsDraft. When Field realized he had been duped, it was too late — the damage had already been done.

Following this, somebody who calls himself @NFLDraftInsider picked it up and spread it to his thousands of followers.

Curious about NFLDraftInsider and his trigger-happy tendencies, I decided to check his page out. It seemed as if he was firing off rumors with no qualms or reservations, no matter where they came from. He didn’t cite sources or look for confirmation on anything. Exacerbating this issue was the fact that several legitimate NFL reporters were retweeting and repeating his statements, some of which might have had absolutely no basis in reality, like the rumor about Herzlich.

So I decided to run a little experiment.

Using my alternate Twitter account, which has 30 followers and no tweets, I made up a rumor about quarterback Pat Devlin joining the Arizona Cardinals and sent it to NFLDraftInsider. Thirty seconds later, he repeated it. No citations, no credits, no fact-checking. Just an echo of what I said.

“So wait a minute?

 

[university of nike]

 

[dmxfury]

Fact checking has onenout the window with the internet unfortunately

 

[adrian1221]

 

[p mac one]

All sorts of wannabe reporters and fake accounts on twitter. I really wonder what they get out of that.

 

[RyGuy45]

Twitter is perfect for today's new age journalism that has no rules or guidelines. You get your attention, you throw out whatever you want, you don't have to cite sources, and you can hide behind your computer. And like everything else these idiots ruin it for the actual legit people who use twitter as an extension of their serious jobs. Like the author says people are stupid. We fall for anything.

 

[airmaxpenny1]

Somewhat did the same thing with CBB for about three months and had everybody convinced he was real.

 

[furrell]

Journalism is in need of serious reform now especially in the age of the Internet and social media. People will believe anything.

 

[krazy88s]

 

[coldcity]

 

[T0INE]

 

 

[kevin cleveland]

A dude named Matt Kessler playing cornerback should be a clear giveaway. Definitely white.

 

[ill steelo]

damn shame

 

[frink85]

Originally Posted by Kevin Cleveland

A dude named Matt Kessler playing cornerback should be a clear giveaway. Definitely white.

(yes i realize he's the only one, but still)

also

at the story. It seems like the new age journalism/internet 2.0/twitter/etc. is making wannabe journalists out of anyone who can press a button. I bet this nfldraftinsider dude has an inflated ego and false sense of importance. Kinda like celebs famous for being famous.

 

[chicagokid23]

thats why i follow Schefter hes about as truthful as it comes with his tweets

 

[RyGuy45]

also

at the story. It seems like the new age journalism/internet 2.0/twitter/etc. is making wannabe journalists out of anyone who can press a button. I bet this nfldraftinsider dude has an inflated ego and false sense of importance. Kinda like celebs famous for being famous.

I forgot this one to end the story

 

[CP1708]

at retweeted by 6 people. 

 

[DeadsetAce]

"Oakland offers Nnamdi 5 years, $85million."

^ that's why you need to not trust twitter

 

[trelvis tha thrilla]

You can trust Twitter. You just have to know who to trust. 

 

[jpzx]

The "Matt Kessler, Binghamton" tweet was retweeted by 28 people 

 

[ooiron manoo]

Dude got lucky with a solid twitter name name and is now duping people. I've seen NFLdraftinsider, never followed him because he isn't much of an insider. The irony, should switch his name to nfldraftoutsider. It's all about who you follow.

 

[wings90]

  Getting him to tweet made up names. That's just sad.

 

[frink85]

Originally Posted by Wings90

  Getting him to tweet made up names. That's just sad.

and the best part about that is that he didnt even retweet "prism", pretty much passed it off as his own. prob. thinking he's gonna get credit for the inside scoop/breaking news. well, theres your 15 seconds chump.