What is freedom of expression?
Freedom of expression is like a superpower that makes us all superheroes. It gives us the freedom to say what we think and feel. It also protects us when we say what we think - even when others disagree with our opinion. It is like an invisible shield that protects us from being attacked by others just because they don't like what we think.
Where does freedom of expression begin?
Freedom of expression starts right here: in your heart, your mind, your mouth. Whenever you think, feel or speak, you are making use of it. It gives you the opportunity to express your beliefs and share your opinions. Be it at school, at work, at home, on the street or on social media.
But where does freedom of expression end?
Yes, freedom of expression also comes to an end. And that is where the rights of others begin. It is not a license to insult, threaten or lie to others. Your opinion is important, but it should never be used to harm or hurt others.
Lies in the world of free speech
Let's imagine the Internet as a big stage on which we are all stars and have our performances. We have the opportunity to reach our audience, express our opinions and be heard. But in the heat of the moment, we often forget that every coin has two sides. Because with the great power that freedom of expression gives us comes an equally great responsibility.
In a world driven by clicks, shares and likes, lies can quickly go viral. They can spread like wildfire, and before we know it, they have reached and influenced people. In some cases, they can even lead to the ruin of a life or the breakup of entire communities.
Sources of truth in a world full of lies
We live in a time where we are flooded with information. Countless messages, tweets, posts and articles bombard us every second. Unfortunately, this is not always true information. Today, fake news and disinformation can spread just as quickly and widely as the truth. This is where fact checkers come into play. Organizations like the International Federation of Fact Checkers, FactCheck.org and Snopes.com are dedicated to separating truth from lies.
However, many people view these fact checkers with suspicion. They believe they are part of the “system” or have a political agenda. This mistrust can have many reasons - be it disappointment, frustration or simply the confusion of the modern information landscape.
If you are one of the skeptics, we encourage you to give these fact-checkers a chance. Not because they are infallible - no one is - but because they play an important role in our information society. Here are some reasons why these sources deserve a chance:
- Transparency:
Good fact checkers are transparent about their methods.
They show where they get their information from and explain how they arrive at their results. They don't hide what they do, they expose it so you can check it out for yourself. - Expertise:
Fact checkers are experts in their field.
They have the training, experience and resources necessary to understand and analyze complex issues. They can verify information in ways that most of us cannot. - Independence:
Many fact-checking organizations operate independently.
They are not under the control of governments or political parties. On the contrary: you are committed to impartiality and objectivity. - Critical dialogue:
And last but not least, fact checkers invite critical dialogue.
They encourage us to ask questions, express doubts and draw our own conclusions. Skepticism is healthy. But it must not stop us from searching for the truth. In a world of lies and half-truths, fact-checkers are beacons of clarity. They are not perfect, but they strive to provide us with information that is reliable and verified. And that is invaluable in our fast-moving digital world.
Our responsibility
Let’s stick with the image of the “superpower” of freedom of expression. With it comes great responsibility. Therefore we must use them wisely. Even though it is sometimes easier to spread lies, we must strive to tell the truth. We must remember that our words have power and that we should use that power for good, not to cause harm.
Final word
Freedom of expression is not a license to put lies into the world and actively spread them. Let us work together for a world in which truth and responsibility go hand in hand with our freedom. Because at the end of the day, lies should really have short legs, but the truth should always get the longest clicks.
This might also be of interest:
The Future of Fact-Checking: Human-AI Teams at Mimikama
The Battle Against Misinformation: Why Does Truth Take So Much Energy?
Sigmund Freud didn't say it, but it's true: Away from bad people and towards your own happiness
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

