You see a news story or video that perfectly confirms something you believe is true and feel is important for others to know. You want to share it urgently. But a small part of you suspects it might be too perfect — you haven't verified the source. Sharing takes one second. Verifying takes thirty minutes. Millions of people share unverified content daily. Do you share it?
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Question

You see a news story or video that perfectly confirms something you believe is true and feel is important for others to know. You want to share it urgently. But a small part of you suspects it might be too perfect — you haven't verified the source. Sharing takes one second. Verifying takes thirty minutes. Millions of people share unverified content daily. Do you share it?

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Accepted Answer

37% chose "Share it — if it turns out to be false, I'll delete it" and 63% chose "Verify first — sharing misinformation is harmful even by accident". The epistemics of social media sharing touch on what philosophers call 'epistemic responsibility' — the obligation to hold beliefs and share information in ways proportional to your evidence. MIT research found that false information spreads on Twitter 6× faster than true information. The design of social platforms optimises for emotional resonance over factual accuracy. The question is whether the individual bears moral responsibility for their small contribution to a systemic problem.

You want to share something that might not be true

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