Throughout the 20th century people would sit at the breakfast table and read the daily newspaper. Nowadays people don’t even have time to eat  breakfast, much less read the newspaper each morning. In the modern world of instant technology, news and current events are constantly accessible. For teens specifically this can be both a beneficial and harmful intake of information.

    News is available through various apps that students keep on their phones, among them CNN, Twitter, and Facebook. News apps such as CNN are dependable with reports of current events, and are generally reliable sources. The problem with instant technology is not with these professional news sites, but social media.

    Apps such as Twitter and Facebook are frantic during times of breaking news. In these situations false rumors begin to circulate. For example during the Boston Bombings Twitter was askew with incorrect facts. There were untrue reports about the suspects and who was responsible for the bombings.

    Senior Peter Belval said “I think [social media] allows students to get access to news much easier because they can just look on Facebook or Twitter… it makes people much more aware of what’s going on. But at the same time there’s so many different viewpoints that are posted that aren’t true… especially during the Boston Marathon when there were so many false stories about that.”

    Because teens and other Twitter users are constantly logged into Twitter, it is often the first app to break current news. This can be troublesome however, because users are bombarded with instant opinions on the event, instead of actual facts. Often times tweets have gaps of information, and leave the viewer confused as to what is occurring.

    Senior Patrick Golden said “facts get blown out of proportion, and [people] are quick to make judgements and assumptions without any real backing of them.”

    Even worse, Twitter and Facebook cause users to become frantic with a continuous bombardment of posts on the topic. The most effective and reliable way for a student to be updated on news, is to check an official news app. These news sites provide students with the entire story and are be backed and supported with legitimate facts.

    Besides the CNN app, there are many other news outlet that are just as accessible as Twitter or Facebook. For international affairs and world-wide news, check out the Associated Press app, AP Mobile. It has notifications that can be sent to directly to your phone in order to be updated immediately.

    For more in depth articles The New York Times app is one of the best. Although it isn’t constantly updated on breaking news, it is intended for readers with more time.The New York Times features many opinion and editorial pieces, it is beneficial for gaining a different perspective on news.

    The Boston Globe application is great for local news. Because it is based in Boston, it offers news stories based on a local perspective and the app is simple and easy to navigate.

     Another fascinating app is Flipboard, which allows the user to personalize the app by picking topics that interest them. Written in a magazine format, it is fun to use, and enjoyable to read. It can also connect with social media sites, creating a more organized space to keep up with current events.

Junior Bridget Huggard said “Flipboard is my favorite news app because not only does it have interesting articles, it is also really fun to use.”

    Although news is constantly updated on mobile devices, phones are not the only way to get news. Pick up a newspaper or magazine when you have free time at home. If you’re feeling a bit more lazy, flip to channel five WCVB or Fox News 25 and watch the local News.

    There are a plethora of ways to access current events, however be wary of what is updated on social media websites. Although being up to date is important, it is even more important to educate yourself on accurate information.