Which age group best grasps the Facts of Life? Surprise!

From 538 Significant Digits:

17 percent of people over 65

According to a new analysis of a study from the Pew Research Center, older people are worse than younger people at distinguishing facts from opinions. [My irritated bolding.]  Given 10 statements — five facts and five opinions — 34 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds identified all five facts correctly, and 46 percent identified all five opinions. The numbers were 17 percent and 21 percent for those 65 and older. The research cuts against the notion that digitally native young people are more exposed and therefore more susceptible to misinformation. There is, however, a correlation with poor performance on the test and exposure to television news. [The Atlantic]

I am so disgruntled about this. Here I am, in a particular combative demographic, presenting myself as an expert in the Facts of Life and what are my coevals doing?

Fucking up, that’s what. C’mon, People of a Certain Age: learn how to get the facts of life. Hint: you can’t get it from TV.

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