# Importance of Education in a Democracy Because democracy relies on people making informed and educated decisions, education is of utmost importance, along with the freedom of speech. For importance of freedom of speech see [[Importance of Freedom of Speech in a Democracy]]. Poor education tends to lead to an increased likelihood of succumbing to fake news, which is weakening institutions and thus harming democracy (for more see [[How Social Media Impacted Modern Society]]). Evidence for this can be seen in recent research that shows that [[The Far-Right is Much More Susceptible to Fake News]], due to lower educational levels. A counterexample would be Finland, where they start with media literacy education in preschool. See [[How Finland Is Teaching a Generation to Spot Misinformation]]. Increased class segregation can also lead to increased division, by promoting 'us-versus-them' mentality. The educational system has an impact on that too. See [[Educational System in the United States Helps Maintain Class Segregation]]. A good educational system will also lead to an increased [[Capitalization of Human Potential]], as lower-income students won't be left behind. If the next Einstein happens to be poor, he will still realize his full potential if education is not reserved for the wealthy. This isn't necessarily linked to democracy, but is a clear win nevertheless. Malcolm Gladwell explored the effects of a good education on society in several [[Revisionist History]] podcasts: [[Carlos Doesn't Remember]], [[Food Fight]], and [[Miss Buchanan’s Period of Adjustment]]. ## Social Media and Education Social media has made a significant impact on modern society (see [[How Social Media Impacted Modern Society]]). One part of that impact was on education. See [[Banning University Speakers Literature and Other Forms of Censorship in Education]]. See also this excerpt from [[Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid]]: ![[Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid#^i4fvv3]]