The Era of Facebook Experts

There was a time when if you didn't know something you actually had to go and get a book, or a few, and do some research to figure out what you were trying to understand. Do you remember those big hard covered telephone like books called enyclopedias? Those days have long disappeared for the masses. Books are read by a small few these days. Brain function has been outsourced to the internet and technology. Have you noticed how people speak into Siri, Echo or Google? Many almost seem to unknowingly slur their words. Facebook makes it easier than others to get your information because it delivers it to you before you ask for it. Facebook perpetuates what social psychologists refer to as the mother of all biases, the confirmation bias. This where we seek out information that validates our preexisting knowledge and beliefs. But if we no longer read or do research then where does our preexisting knowledge come from?

Webster's defines expert as one with special skill or knowledge representing mastery of a particular subject. No where in this definition are the words belief or think. This means what you think or what you believe is not what makes you an expert. I once had someone argue with me that France and Brazil shared a border. (Ok, maybe they did a billion years ago, but that wasn't where this person was coming from) I still debate people about the importance of vaccinations. Although eighty percent of the country is overweight and forty percent are obese, everyone seems to be a health, fitness, or nutrition expert. I'm sure you've heard the "I read it on Facebook" defense, or the "Google it, you'll see" response.

The advances in technology have made it easier to become an expert if you decide to put the work in to become one. But merely having access to information does not make one an expert. There is far more uncertainty out there than quality information. This is one of the drawbacks of information technology. It makes mental junk food too easily accessible. It is up to you to take the responsibility to become well informed and this doesn't happen just by reading the Facebook posts that confirm your already limited beliefs. This process entails you going out and learning every possible perspective on an issue that is significant to you and weighing the information you come across. Your world and your experiences are only as big or as small as the amount of information you give yourself access to.