Social argumentative essay on knowing how to read and recognize good values ​​(truth, love, justice,...) that are being hidden is a manifestation of maturity.

Topic

Recognizing and distinguishing the inside from the outside, identity and color, truth and fabrication are essential skills in a society of information overload like we are living in. Sometimes, out of naivety, we can turn ourselves into a transmission pole spreading false signals. This can be clearly seen through many manifestations. We judge and criticize a person based on a few lines of news spread on the internet, and by the time we understand that the truth is not necessarily true, it is too late. We fall into a maze of fabricated information fabricated and led by someone, and then we contribute to spreading that information, causing many serious consequences.

When we know how to read, we see ourselves growing up. But when we know how to read, we see ourselves growing up. We see the truth behind the false sweetness. We see love after anger. We see justice after chaos. Knowing how to "read" not only makes us wiser, but also makes us more tolerant of what we encounter.

The above text raises the issue: "knowing how to read" - knowing how to recognize good values ​​(truth, love, justice,...) that are being obscured - is a sign of maturity.

Write a social argumentative essay discussing the above issue.

Sample essay

In an age where information travels at the speed of light, the ability to "read" is no longer simply a matter of recognizing characters on a page but has become an essential life skill.

"Knowing how to read" here means the ability to recognize hidden good values, distinguish between truth and falsehood, and see through the essence behind superficial phenomena.

This is not only a manifestation of intelligence but also a sign of maturity in each person's soul, especially important in the context of modern society full of contradictory and complex information.

Today's society is witnessing an information revolution unprecedented in human history. Every day, billions of pieces of information are created and spread through social networks, websites, and mobile applications at breakneck speed.

In this constant flow of information, there is a lot of false, distorted or intentionally created news for commercial, political purposes or simply to attract attention. The phenomenon of "fake news" is no longer strange, but has become an inseparable part of digital life. This information is often packaged in a sophisticated, attractive way, easily making readers believe and share without verification.

Particularly serious is the "herd" mentality in the social media era. When a piece of information is shared by many people, it automatically creates a sense of trust, even though it may be completely false. Social media users often tend to skim, react quickly and share immediately without taking time to think. This creates a "fireball" effect, causing false information to spread at a terrifying speed and scale, causing unpredictable consequences.

The consequences of the lack of "literacy" in modern society are extremely serious and multifaceted. First of all, it leads to hasty judgments and cyber violence. Just a few lines of unverified information can be used by public opinion to "punish" a person, destroying their reputation and life beyond repair.

Typical cases include traffic accidents that are "accused" on social networks with unclear information, leading to fierce attacks from netizens, even forcing them to quit their jobs even though they are later proven to be misunderstood. Or cases where students are suspected of inappropriate behavior through just a short edited video, creating a wave of outrage before the truth is clarified.

In the business field, this phenomenon also causes serious damage. Many businesses, restaurants, and stores have had to close or lose customers because of false rumors about product or service quality spread on social networks. Rumors about dirty food and fake goods often appear with high frequency, causing confusion among consumers and heavy losses to businesses, even though this information is often completely unfounded.

Particularly serious is the widespread spread of health misinformation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, countless false information about the origin of the virus, prevention and treatment methods have caused many people to panic, refuse to get vaccinated or use unscientific "cures". This not only affects personal health but also hinders the community's disease prevention work.

Equally dangerous is the gradual loss of the ability of society to dialogue and seek the truth. When everyone believes information that fits their views and rejects opposing opinions, society becomes divided into separate “information bubbles”. This not only causes division but also weakens the foundations of democracy, when important decisions are made based on inaccurate or distorted information.

We can see this phenomenon clearly in elections in many countries, where voters are divided into opposing groups, each side believing in a completely different set of “facts”.

In terms of social psychology, constant exposure to negative, sensational and inaccurate information can cause stress, anxiety and loss of trust in society. Many people become overly skeptical and no longer trust any information, leading to apathy and withdrawal from social activities. This is a major threat to community cohesion and national unity.

To develop the ability to “read,” each individual needs to practice critical thinking skills from an early age. This begins with asking questions about each piece of information received: who is providing this information, what is their purpose, is there any specific evidence, is there other reliable sources to confirm it.

The habit of verifying information from multiple sources before drawing conclusions or sharing should be considered a mandatory rule in the digital age. For example, when receiving information about a "miracle" remedy, instead of rushing to share it, we should learn from reputable medical sources, consult a doctor or look it up on the official website of the Ministry of Health.

Education also plays an important role in equipping the younger generation with these skills. The education system needs to incorporate lessons on critical thinking, information analysis skills and fake news recognition into the curriculum. Students need to be taught how to evaluate the reliability of information sources, how to distinguish between personal opinions and facts, and how to recognize psychological manipulation in the media. Even more important is information ethics education, helping students understand their responsibilities when sharing information in cyberspace.

The family should also be the first environment to nurture the ability to "read". Parents should create open discussions about events happening in society, encourage children to ask questions and learn from different perspectives. Instead of drawing rigid conclusions, parents should guide children to think independently and make their own judgments based on available evidence.

When your child shares something from social media, you can ask, "Do you know where this information came from? Are you sure it's true? Let's find out more."

The mass media also has an important responsibility in improving the quality of information. Press agencies must strictly adhere to professional ethics, verify information thoroughly before publishing, and be responsible for correcting and apologizing when errors occur.

At the same time, social media platforms need to take effective measures to prevent the spread of misinformation, from flagging warnings to limiting the reach of unverified posts. Facebook and Google have begun implementing fact-checking tools, flagging potentially false information and providing additional information from reliable sources.

The State needs to have appropriate policies and regulations to manage information in the digital age, ensuring both freedom of expression and preventing the misuse of information that is harmful to society. This requires a delicate balance between control and freedom, between protecting society and respecting individual rights. It is important to have clear sanctions for deliberately creating and spreading false information, especially information that can cause serious harm to individuals or society.

"Knowing how to read" in the present era is not only a skill but has become a necessary quality of an adult. It demonstrates the ability to perceive the world deeply and comprehensively, not being swept away by temporary emotions or superficial information.

A "literate" person is one who can see the love behind a parent's irritable words when they worry about their child, recognize the genuine concern behind a teacher's criticism, and understand the difficulties and pressures that make a salesperson have an unfriendly attitude at the end of a tiring work day.

This ability not only helps people make the right decisions but also makes life more meaningful and richer. When we "know how to read", we can avoid unfortunate misunderstandings, build sincere relationships and contribute to creating a more civilized and humane society. That is the path to true maturity of each individual and of the whole society in this era of information explosion.