Social media has emerged as a boon for information dissemination in several domains, SCIENCE COMMUNICATION definitely being one of them.But, every coin has two sides!
Here's a concise perspective of how social media affects science communication...
👉Disintermediation
✨The public have direct and total access to information, usually free of cost; without the involvement of any go-between individuals or organizations (eg) the press
✨Researchers and science communicators can reach and communicate with the public directly, and hence do not risk the loss or misinterpretation of information, that may happen if intermediaries are involved
👉Infodemic
✨The huge quantity of information available may overwhelm, confuse, and even mislead the general public
✨Distinction between reliable and unreliable sources is blurred
👉Polarization
✨Social media platforms often promote the creation of communities and groups of like-minded individuals
✨Individuals in such groups and communities adhere strictly to views that agree with their mind-set, including their beliefs, values, and thought processes; they choose to ignore information that is not in concurrence with their views and opinions
✨This setting often causes evidence-based information to take a back-seat in the face of information (even if it is unreliable) that is consistent with the narrative of a particular group/ community of individuals
So, how do we find the right balance?
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