We keep blaming user error for what is shared online. But what if the real issue isn’t user error at all? What if it’s the structure that allows it to spread like wildfire? Claims, opinions, verified reporting, and speculation all move through the same frictionless feed we call social media. When everything is presented the same way, how are we to discern fact from fiction?

We keep arguing about facts online. But what if the real issue isn’t the facts at all? What if it’s the way everything is formatted the same? Opinions, research, personal stories, bold claims — they all look identical in the feed. When everything looks equally authoritative, it starts to feel that way.