Why is it important to be skeptical about new information?

Answer 1

When you see scientific issues in newspapers, radio, television, and magazines, it is important to be skeptical and question information. It is essential to question statements made by people outside their area of expertise and to question claims that are based on vague statements. To determine whether information is scientific or pseudoscience (information incorrectly represented as scientific), be skeptical and identify facts and opinions.

Answer 2

Whenever you receive new information, especially if it's related to current events, be sure to find out if it's from a credible source: for example, many times, rumors spread like wildfire on the internet, and "fake news" or distorted information gets shared thousands of times, even though the information is totally false. And it's not just fake news-- early reporting of a news event, even by credible and experienced reporters, can often turn out to be wrong: some news sources are in a hurry to get the story first, but once other information is added (which may take some time), it can contradict the earlier version of the story. And then there are the "new and exciting" health claims: you may hear about some new medical "cure" that a famous celebrity says is miraculous, when in fact, it's just another hoax. Be very skeptical about people who are trying to sell you some product that has no science behind it, and be sure to verify their claims by talking to trustworthy experts or people who do not have a financial incentive in whether you buy the product or not.

Please don't get me wrong: I'm not saying all new information is false, and I'm not saying every claim is a lie. In fact, as a researcher, I get excited when I can learn something new; whenever I discover new information, it can really expand my knowledge or help me to understand something more thoroughly than I did before. However, my training has taught me that "new" does not always mean better, nor does it always mean the information is accurate. So before I get too excited, I take the time to do some fact-checking, using reliable sources. I recommend that to you. It may turn out that the new information is accurate, and that's a good thing. But it's still better to do a little research first and see for yourself whether the new information is based on facts, or if it's just another myth.