"Not the 9 O'Clock News, But YouTube"... Why Don't We Trust the News? [YouTube and Confirmation Bias]

"People surrounded me in an instant and raised their phones, so I felt a fear that I might get hit. It is natural for journalists to cover events on-site, but at rallies, they were demonized. For fair reporting, all voices at the rally should be included, but there are frequent cases where YouTubers who unilaterally amplify certain voices are welcomed, while media reporters are rejected."

After President Yoon Seok-yeol was arrested on charges of being the leader of a rebellion, some supporters broke into the Seoul Western District Court and caused an illegal violent incident. On the morning of the 20th, a day after the incident, police barricades remained damaged in front of the Western District Court in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

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How was hostility toward the media triggered? Experts point out that politically biased YouTube channel operators are encouraging the public to avoid mainstream media. Regardless of left or right, politically biased YouTube channel operators emphasize "truths not reported by the media" in video thumbnails and captions, urging viewers to trust and watch YouTube.

Professor Choi Sang-bong of the Department of Journalism and Broadcasting at Sungkonghoe University explained in a phone interview with Asia Economy, "From the perspective of someone with a one-sided political view, many reports from mainstream media may differ from their thoughts, causing discomfort. However, on YouTube, channel operators who share their values tell them that their views are correct." Professor Choi added, "When viewers get immersed in YouTube channels that reinforce their beliefs, they naturally exhibit confirmation bias by dismissing opposing arguments as false. Channel operators make money from these biased subscribers, and platform providers also benefit. This cycle inevitably becomes more sensationalized."

The chaotic atmosphere inside and outside the country creates an optimal environment for YouTubers' political biases to permeate the public. Professor Lim Myeong-ho of the Department of Psychology at Dankook University said, "During times of political turmoil, social disasters, and economic hardship, it becomes difficult to trust anyone easily. When external chaos meets internal anxiety, people tend to believe stories that align with their thoughts and make emotionally biased decisions."

Individual YouTubers emphasizing unverified or biased claims in video thumbnails, claiming them to be facts not reported by mainstream media. YouTube capture.

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Since the decline in trust in Korean media is not a recent issue, there are also criticisms that the media bears responsibility. The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism released a report stating that 67% of Korean news users have deliberately avoided mainstream media news. The most common reason for avoidance was "because the news is untrustworthy or biased."

Media scholars say that while the decline in media trust and the confirmation bias of those who worship YouTube should be viewed separately, it is clear that mainstream media has been negligent in fulfilling its role.

Professor Nam Jae-il of the Department of Journalism and Broadcasting at Kyungpook National University pointed out, "Mainstream media has failed to establish the ethics and journalistic norms required when covering political issues. They avoid making public or ethical judgments that the media should make and fall into formalistic factual reporting that merely relays statements from both sides. Citizens must have felt frustrated by this false equivalence." He emphasized, "Since our society is already politically divided into two camps, the media should rather take on the role of mediating between them."

On December 19, 2024, in front of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office building, lawyer Seok Dong-hyun, who is set to defend President Yoon Seok-yeol, met with reporters to express his stance on the investigation into charges of insurrection and the impeachment trial. A YouTuber was live streaming this scene on a mobile phone, and real-time comments were appearing on the screen. Photo by Heo Young-han

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So, is there a way to escape confirmation bias?

Experts first urge cultivating the habit of verification. This means comparing information from YouTube with that from mainstream media. Professor Choi advised, "The simplest way to determine whether content on YouTube is fake news is to check how it is reported by mainstream media. Even though mainstream media can be biased and partisan, they are still more regulated and systematically operated than YouTube channel operators. Therefore, it is necessary to see how mainstream media covers the story."

The second is not to give up communication with extremely biased groups. Professor Lim said, "In times of confusion, bias can become widespread. Political and social stability must come first. Nevertheless, instead of dismissing these groups as simply an extreme minority and responding with indifference, it is important to tell them that other values can exist and continue communication to foster a healthy social atmosphere."

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