ESSAY INFORMATION:
Written by: Xuân Phi, 05/04/2021
Supported by: Ex-BC Examiner, 06/04/2021
Question: More and more people no longer read newspapers or watch TV programmes to get news. They get news about the world through the Internet. Is this a positive or negative development?
(IELTS Academic – 03/04/2021)
ANSWER:
Many readers of the news have recently switched to online channels. While digital platforms might facilitate a smoother user experience for readers, I believe that this is a negative change considering the risks of unreliable information.
On the one hand, the prevalence of news on the Internet can be attributed to a superior user experience. Indeed, news presented on websites or social networking sites can come in various forms including infographics and animated videos that enhance the clarity and readability of the information provided. Leading news corporations such as the BBC have also enabled visitors to customise the home page, allowing them to enjoy personalised content or to participate in real-time debates to voice their opinions. By contrast, all of this can hardly be accomplished in the limits prescribed by television broadcasts or the hard copies of conventionally printed newspapers.
On the other hand, advocates of traditional news channels maintain that online platforms should be held responsible for the widespread dissemination of misleading news. Unauthorised websites such as www.ontheverge.com and www.saveus.com have proactively bred baseless conspiracy theories related to the side-effects of vaccines. Some theorists falsely claim that vaccines contain a special type of nanochip capable of manipulating human thought for the sake of an imaginary and all-powerful ruling elite, thus convincing many less discerning members of their audience to join the anti-vaccine movement. This has unfortunately resulted in thousands of children being unvaccinated, causing a rise in deadly and preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough in the United States, Germany and the UK.
In conclusion, despite the legitimately improved experience provided by online news channels, I disapprove of news on the Internet due to the increased risk of misinformation. Governments should take resolute actions to regulate online news sources and sharing in virtual spaces.
WORD LIST:
| ENGLISH | TIẾNG VIỆT |
| Switch to online channels to acquire news | Chuyển sang thu thập tin tức từ các kênh trực tuyến |
| Facilitate a smoother user experience for readers | Tạo điều kiện cho người đọc trải nghiệm một cách suôn sẻ |
| The prevalence of news on the Internet | Sự phổ biến của tin tức trên Internet |
| Enhance the clarity and readability of the information | Nâng cao tính rõ ràng và dễ đọc của thông tin |
| Personalised news content | Nội dung tin tức được cá nhân hóa |
| Participate in real-time debates to voice their opinions | Tham gia vào các cuộc tranh luận trong thời gian thực để nói lên ý kiến của họ |
| Conventionally printed newspapers | Báo in thông thường |
| Be held responsible for the widespread dissemination of misleading news | Chịu trách nhiệm về sự lan rộng của những tin tức sai lệch |
| A baseless conspiracy theory related to sth | Thuyết âm mưu vô căn cứ về cái gì |
| An imaginary and all-powerful ruling elite | Một tầng lớp thống trị toàn năng trong tưởng tượng
|
| A rise in deadly and preventable diseases | Sự gia tăng của các căn bệnh chết người dù có thể ngăn chặn được |
| Whooping cough | Bệnh ho gà |
