So, for YEARS we have had discussions about how social media spreads false or misleading information.
So...with the polling failures this year, are mainstream outlets going to do any soul searching on their own spread of false and misleading info? https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2019/05/13/users-say-they-regularly-encounter-false-and-misleading-content-on-social-media-but-also-new-ideas/
So...with the polling failures this year, are mainstream outlets going to do any soul searching on their own spread of false and misleading info? https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2019/05/13/users-say-they-regularly-encounter-false-and-misleading-content-on-social-media-but-also-new-ideas/
Joe Biden is going to win the popular vote by about 3% most likely. Polls predicted about 7%.
Any poll on this list showing a Biden lead of 6 or above basically was outside the margin of error, give or take. 9/13 of these missed.
Any poll on this list showing a Biden lead of 6 or above basically was outside the margin of error, give or take. 9/13 of these missed.
Other misses:
Predicted/Actual
FL Biden 0.9/Trump 3.4
OH Trump 0.9/Trump 8
PA Biden 1.2/Pending
WI Biden 6.7/Biden 0.2
MI Biden 4.2/Biden 2.8
AZ Biden 0.9/Pending
NV Biden 2.4/Pending
Predicted/Actual
FL Biden 0.9/Trump 3.4
OH Trump 0.9/Trump 8
PA Biden 1.2/Pending
WI Biden 6.7/Biden 0.2
MI Biden 4.2/Biden 2.8
AZ Biden 0.9/Pending
NV Biden 2.4/Pending
Not all of these are misses. But there are enough misses here that the media may have shifted the electorate.
This is also false information changing voting patterns, and the media better face up to and admit it.
This is also false information changing voting patterns, and the media better face up to and admit it.
Frankly, the media can't have it both ways.
They can't argue they are more legitimate than social media...and then make errors this big. They often pay for these polling outfits to do their studies...and they are thus responsible for their accuracy.
And they are failing.
They can't argue they are more legitimate than social media...and then make errors this big. They often pay for these polling outfits to do their studies...and they are thus responsible for their accuracy.
And they are failing.
So, when @CNN, @MSNBC, @FoxNews, @CBSNews, @ABC, etc make mistakes in half of the key states...that is more disinformation per capita by many, many multiples than RUSSIA'S ENTIRE CAMPAIGN IN 2016.
Either we have reporters take this seriously, or don't.
I predict the latter. Already, many of those that depend on polls for their livelihoods are defending this failure, for the SECOND STRAIGHT ELECTION.
I predict the latter. Already, many of those that depend on polls for their livelihoods are defending this failure, for the SECOND STRAIGHT ELECTION.
Lets also note that a 50% success rate isn't useless. That is a coin flip.
Just because they got MI right doesn't excuse the polling misses in OH, FL, etc.
I doubt our media is honest enough to take on this question though.
Just because they got MI right doesn't excuse the polling misses in OH, FL, etc.
I doubt our media is honest enough to take on this question though.