Question

People who are single are happier because they are living their most authentic lives without having to worry about someone else.

Comments

This article tackles the idea of how singleness is allowing more individuals to be happy now. This article brings up reputable statistics for its topic such as percentage of people satisfied with never getting married. By utilizing statistics, it makes this argument more convincing to see what percentage of single people tend to appreciate it or not. Nonetheless, this article makes me skeptical because much of the argument is opinionated. For example, a professor at the Hebrew University states how single people are more social and aware of social surroundings. Her career and position makes her trustworthy, yet it is unclear where she obtained this information. Single people's happiness clearly is different in each individuals and their singleness isn't always attributed to their happiness. We cannot decide these factors are causation, so this article is semi-trustworthy.

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This article claims that individuals are happier when they are single however, this is an opinionated article and uses statistics that aren't necessarily correlated with the idea of being single but rather how many individuals are content with not being married. Which is fine but doesn't answer the same question of how many people are happy and satisfied mores because they are not in a relationship.  The is a professor within Hebrew University who explains that single individuals are much more social and aware of social surroundings. Her work tends to be trustworthy, yet it is also unclear where she discovered this information as well. A single person may be just as happy as the next married or taken person, just because they are single that is not to say that they are happy than the average committed couple.

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I think maybe re stating you claim in a way of saying it as a question like are you happier single or in a relationship? could be more powerful and could bring in a larger audience or maybe even just saying is being single better than being in a relationship? let's discuss and going into more depth with your opinion on this claim vs just simply coming out stating that single people are happier and not considering that yes that may be true for some people but people who are in relationship's could have the same amount of happiness no matter the amount of articles or evidence you want to provide

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It’s interesting that the BuzzFeed article uses census data to back up its claims but only highlights the percentage of single people, without actually showing how this impacts happiness. Relying on platforms like TikTok for major claims is definitely questionable, especially since these sources aren’t usually credible for scientific evidence. While the article includes some valid research journal sources, it seems to cherry-pick data to fit a narrative rather than provide a balanced view. The research cited only suggests that single people can feel less stressed, not that they’re necessarily happier. This sounds like an overgeneralization, possibly to attract more readers or things like that.

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This fact check would be a lot stronger with references. it seems here that many of the arguments, figures and quotes dont point directly towards the claim they dont represent a broad enough range of people nor do they talk about happiness rather than being content. this is one of the figures that demonstrates how the claim in indirectly derived, "Data from 2019 show that while half of single adults say they aren’t looking for a relationship or dates, single men (61%) are much more likely to be seeking a partnership compared with single women (38%)." Further, according to TIME singles are just beginning to be studied and they also warn that "there are lots of variables at play. For instance, some people who are single might be exceptionally happy, while others in relationships are miserable." TIME has been a prominent media brand for over 100 years, building a reputation for trustworthy journalism and authoritative reporting.  

https://time.com/6255111/single-people-happy-healthy/

Answer 1

The article explains that being single nowadays leads to greater happiness and overall enjoyment in mundane activities. The claim that "single people are happier" is subjective and can be taken from person to person. The article links data explaining the difficulties of dating and the overall rise of single people. Although, yes, dating is different from how it used to be with online dating apps and new social norms, these articles don't support the claim. The data they provide is about divorce rates which isn't enough to back up their article. I believe that this claim is too subjective and they don't provide the correct data to support their claim.

https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/08/20/nearly-half-of-u-s-adults-say-dating-has-gotten-harder-for-most-people-in-the-last-10-years/

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0265407515597564

Comments

I like the angle that you took on this and think you brought up some interesting points. I agree that they do have a lack of data to support their argument especially when it technically not relevant. There are many reasons for divorce outside of unhappiness. I would also argue that having a partner to do the mundane activities with would cause you to find more enjoyment in them because it's another time that you get to be with someone you care about. Yes, the dating world is a lot different nowadays and I would even say that it's a lot smaller than it used to be, but I think that it's still possible to find happiness in a relationship, it may just take some work, which not everyone is willing to do. There's nothing wrong with that but just because someone doesn't want to put in the effort to find a partner doesn't mean that you're better off without one.

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In this claim, I agree that the happiness of single people is too subjective and lacks adequate supporting data. I also agree that the differences in individual experiences and the constant changing of relationships suggest that better evidence is needed to prove claims about happiness.

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I agree with you that this claim is subjective and that you can't really measure happiness. People may be happy or unhappy due to many factors in their lives whether they are single or in a partnership. I also like that you used an academic source as opposed to a political news source for this topic.

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I enjoyed reading your response and found that I agreed with your answer. Happiness is a philosophical question that is subjective and impossible to measure. Not only is the title of this article misleading, but it is false. Thank you for clarifying that their data did not relate to the claim.

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I like your fact check because you add the viewpoint of the opposition. This contrast helps people understand that there isn't one true view and therefore is an opinion, not a fact.

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I strongly agree that the claim made here is subjective. Ignoring all the evidence for a second, saying someone is "happier" because they are single varies person-to-person and cannot be generalized to the whole population. I also liked that you linked to research done by Pew on dating trends because it shows why someone MIGHT think this is true but also why it isn't. Going off of that, I liked that you acknowledged the argument from both sides of the claim, showing that there is no right answer to this.

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Your statement and reasoning make a lot of sense. I totally agree this statement is very opinion based and cannot be proven true or false. Pew Research Center is a really credible website—I’ve used it multiple times for my own projects. Their studies are super detailed and give a lot of good insights into social issues and trends.

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I like the angle you took factchecking this claim stating that single people are happier. Saying it's subjective and looking at it from both points of view is the way to answer such claim, as it seems more of an opinion than a scientifically backed claim. I want to add to your factcheck and say that being happier or not doesn't have to do so much with being in a relationship or not, but many other external factors like financial situation and other relationships with the people around you. Nonetheless, you did a great job researching the claim and getting to the bottom of this.

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I agree with the stance that you took in regards to this claim and appreciate your factcheck.  In my opinion, this "claim" from Buzzfeed News was never a claim to begin with, moreso just stating that more people, specifically women, are beginning to accept and appreciate being single. Additionally, after some research, Buzzfeed News has been noted in the past as having inconsistent editorial quality, so taking their writing as a serious claim is maybe not the best idea. I also agree with your stance that the studies they used are not the best. You mentioned divorce rates, but the Buzzfeed News article mentions a study stating single people as not being married or living with their partner -- I'm sure you can imagine just how many people are currently in a committed relationship, but not necessarily living with or married to their partner. Overall, great job with this fact check and taking a stance and explaining your thought behind it!

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Good response. Your sources are very reputable. I also firmly believe in your conclusion- whether or not being single makes you happier is incredible subjective.

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I think the claim is way too opinion-based to be proved either way. If anything, it doesn't seem to be a "claim", just more of a "statement". You did a good job at having a neutral stance on the take.

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The approach you took to debunking the claim "single people are happier" was very effective, as you debunked each claim by proving that the data provided was not credible to prove the claim right.  I agree with you that the data provided did not directly relate to or support the claim made. The claim is far too subjective and would be very difficult ot be proven with data.

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You raise some excellent issues in this article, particularly about how the assertion that "single people are happier" is highly arbitrary and not true for everyone. Indeed, the essay seems to take this concept and run with it without providing enough solid evidence to support it. Statistics on divorce rates don't necessarily indicate that single people are happier; they only indicate that more people are opting out of marriage, which isn't the same thing. If the article contained research that directly compared the happiness of single and coupled people over time, it would be far more persuasive. Well done for recognizing that their data doesn't entirely support the assertion they're attempting to make.

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I agree with your stance. I like how you talked about how there is some truth to the claim. However, it is not correct in the sense that it is the only right answer due to the fact that the topic is subjective from person to person.

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I agree with your analysis of the description of happiness as being alone in mundane activities rather than with a partner also subjective. The claim itself leans heavily on causation and doesn't take into account the happiness they may of had with there partner as that would be the obvious comparison that it is not compared too.

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I completely agree with you. Being in a relationship is opinionated. I do feel that sometimes it’s hard to find your person. In that case it’s an objective.

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I agree that happiness really varies from person to person. The article talks about the increase in single people and the challenges of dating, however it mostly uses divorce rates, which doesn't directly prove that being single equals more happiness. For a better more accurate view, studies from the Pew Research Center mixed results of this study. Some report single people enjoy more freedom, while others say that married people often report being happier. I think that if the article had better concrete sources it would be a more credible claim.

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I agree with your stance I think it was taken more as an opinion and it really varies person to person. I also agree it is important to consider the causation vs correlation of this issue and the fact that human connection raises happiness.

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I agree that happiness is subjective and varies widely. The article's claim that being alone leads to greater happiness overlooks the potential joy people find in partnerships. It primarily relies on divorce rates, which only show an increase in people opting out of marriage, not necessarily greater happiness among singles. Since the podcast was also single for so long with different views on romance it feels as though he picked and chose info to support his claim and bias. For a more persuasive argument, it should include research directly comparing the happiness of single and coupled individuals over time.

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Those who are single, dont have to depend on others right away for an answer. If one feels as though their answer isnt enough validation they might ask their partner after. We depend so much on our significant other because we devote so much of our life to them that the bond you and another individual have can become toxic.  https://maria-nicholas.medium.com/why-you-must-prioritize-your-emotional-needs-in-a-relationship-e3b307bd914a

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I definitely agree with your take saying "single people are happier" does feel like an vague thing to say, especially since happiness is subjective and varies widely among individuals. Linking data on divorce rates or the rise of single people doesn’t directly back up the claim about happiness, as they’re different issues. The articles seem to imply that single people enjoy life more because they have more time or freedom, but that doesn't necessarily mean they’re happier. I’m curious to know did you come across any research that actually measured happiness levels between single and partnered individuals? And did the article explore how life satisfaction might change over time for single people versus those in relationships?

Answer 2

I think this article focuses too much on why single people are happy but doesn't really give any information to compare to the happiness of people in a relationship. Additionally, may be too subjective to make a claim.

Comments

I agree, there has not been thoruogh studies on whether or not single people are happier on average. The only study I could found that relate to this claims the oppisite, with CNN reporting that married people are happier on average (https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/09/health/marriage-happiness-wellness/index.html#:~:text=Over%20the%20survey%20period%2C%20married,year%2C%20according%20to%20the%20data.) however happiness is subjective and diffcult to define. Therefore I agree with your comment, this is more of an opinion then a real verifiable claim.

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I agree with you I think its subjective to make a claim who is happier or not. Someones happiness is something that can change in an instant. A couple can be happy and then the next day it can all fall apart and they can be unhappy same goes with a single person. Allthough I believe that you are probably happier with a partner I still believe that it is hard to judge making me agree with your claim that its hard to actually find the correct answer.

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I agree with you on the fact that the claim is subjective. Different people have different relationships, and it's not reasonable to make one whole claim off of so many different experiences. This claim is difficult to have one direct answer to.

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I agree because it can all depend on who is being studied. There are different positions someone can be in and how that relationship is going. Single people, while they have a lot of time to focus on themselves, can be miserable without a partner and wish they had someone like that in their life.

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I totally agree that this claim is incredibly subjective, and there are far too many moving parts to make a definitive claim on the matter. People not in relationships indeed have more time on their hands, which could be spent bettering themselves and their lives. However not all people are the same, and what's good for one person doesn't mean it's a universal truth.

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I love that we are both here for an assignment lol I hope you get a good score! Also good luck on the quiz if you haven't done it yet

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I agree to be able to find who is happier they would have to directly compare single people and coupled people, which would still not give a definitive answer as there are variables that need to be accounted for.

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I like your answer to this claim because you point out the flaw of this fact being an opinion. It would have been helpful to hear an argument that states that people in relationships are happier.

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I agree I think there is too many outside factors and no real evidence to support the claim. We can't base true or false on something without enough evidence.

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I like how you mentioned that there is truth to their claim about people who are single being happy but also mentioned that there is no real evidence saying that people who are in relationships are unhappy.

Answer 3

The relationship between happiness and relationship status is influenced by too many factors to be 100% true or false. Some people thrive in relationships, while others feel more fulfilled on their own.

Comments

I agree with you, there are too many personal factors in relationships and happiness. This makes it way too difficult to make a claim for the entire population about happiness based off of relationship status.

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This is very true because the article is very opinionated based so one person's experience won't be the next person's. It can all vary on what was going on between them vs. when they were/are single. As humans whether we like to admit it or not, we need that romantic aspect in our lives. In one shape or another.

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I think this is true because one's relationship status cannot determine happiness. It all depends on your own personal experience with a partner and there are so many different factors that go into it for each person.

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Though I agree with your point, your claim would be made much more reliable if you could find some sort of source to confirm your stance. Even a quote from a relationship therapist (of some sort) supporting your opinion would be sufficient. And, if you found evidence against your claim, then, perhaps, your perspective on this topic might change in light of a different scholarly outlook. In short, though I agree with your statement (at first glance), your factcheck is simply an opinion and requires some sort of evidence to establish any sort of credibility.

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I agree with what you are saying, this a difficult one to fact check as it all goes with personal expierence, I think it could be helpful to find someway to back up your claim or you are also just stating your own opinion online with no sources.

Answer 4

This article addresses a subject that is hard to prove statistically and one that varies greatly from person to person. The main claim of the article though, is that people CAN be happier when single, but there isn't necessarily a cause and effect relationship between the two. 

This article originates from Buzzfeed, which is a source that thrives off of sensational headlines and opinions. Often times while they can be interesting, Buzzfeed isn't a great source for trustworthy reporting. Focusing on specifically the author, she has written a book as well as hosted a podcast. She has experience with the topic as she has been single for a long time. This can be both good and bad for validity as she has firsthand experience with the topic and can speak from that experience, but it also leads to a lot of bias on the topic and possible exaggeration or withholding of information on the topic. 

I was looking at other articles covering the same topic, and came across this one. The article is slightly different, as it focuses on the reverse claim, that single people are less happy than people in a relationship. The article sources research data showing that people who are single are unhappier. But the article also focuses on a more important claim: "those who dismissed relationships as unimportant were more satisfied with their lives than single young adults who were less dismissive of romantic relationships."

The ultimate point of this article is that the happiness of people based on relationship isn't necessarily a result of being in a relationship, but more the mindset and views of people regarding desire for a relationship. Ultimately, this is a really cloudy topic with no definite answer based purely on the happiness of anybody who is single. The true determining factor of relationship based happiness is more what you make of being in a relationship rather than whether or not you are in one. 

Comments

This article touches on a tricky topic that varies a lot from person to person. It suggests people can be happier when single, but there’s no clear cause and effect. The author has personal experience, which adds insight but also potential bias, especially since BuzzFeed tends to lean toward sensational content. In the end, happiness seems more about mindset than whether you're in a relationship or not.

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I enjoyed reading this fact check because it addresses the claim made but also doesn't give a direct answer to if single people are necessarily, "happier" than people in relationships. It just simply states that it can't be put to the test because it truly depends on the persons individual experience. I also liked how you took reliable sources to back up your statements as you talked about them, so I didn't get lost in your response.

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This factcheck did a great job in trying to prove it right or have some relevant back up to it. It was good that out of all the other comments posted you had a news source that you could quote from. While I agree with the other comments that this fact is very biased and hard to determine, you made a good ending point that the happiness that is trying to be proven is based off an ideal rather than actually being in a relationship. You also stated Buzzfeed isn't a strong source, Buzzfeed is known to the public as an entertainment based media, so it is safe to assume the fact was posted for public opinion like this.

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This factcheck was great, I liked how you went and looked at a source that states the counter claim. Though I do agree with this claim not having such a black and white answer there could be statistical research that supports one claim more than the other.

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This fact-check was great! I think bringing up how buzzfeed isn't that reliable of a source is important and I like how your answers were organized yet concise. I agree with you about how they didn't have the best sources. Great job!

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This was a great fact check. I do agree with the fact that this is an opinion and can't be true or false. Everyone has experienced something different in their life and have been able to fill the "holes" in their life.

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I like the fact that you point out that BuzzFeed "thrives off of sensational headlines and opinions." This is super important to recognize as, yes, many people are picking up that the claim of this article can not be true, and this is one of the main reasons why. They aren't making a claim; they are trying to grab your attention with an in-your-face headline that will get you to click on the article.

Answer 5

I think there is some truth to this claim in the sense that as a single person you are less limited by a spouse and thus have less responsibilities, don't have to make time for a relationship, and certainly when it comes to dating there is a lot of money to be saved. This may set you up for a more self-fulfilling life but I would argue that for many if not most people it's within our human nature to want to have a spouse and share life's greatest memories, challenges, burdens, and victories with someone else. These are all things that would give great meaning to life and cause abundant happiness and joy, even in the midst of trial. It is even evidenced in scripture that relationships are a good thing, a gift from God and meant to fulfill us and give us happiness, "Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” This is of course in reference to the creation of Eve in Genesis 2:18(ESV).(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%202%3A18&version=ESV) 

 It is interesting the statistics we are seeing today with a general rise in loneliness in society, lots of the research is linked to friendships but there has also been great connection to fewer marriages in our day and age. I believe that people who are in a healthy relationship are much more likely to be happy and avoid loneliness far more often. According to the American Psychiatric Association stating, "...with 30% of Americans aged 18-34 saying they were lonely every day or several times a week, and single adults are nearly twice as likely as married adults to say they have been lonely on a weekly basis over the past year (39% vs. 22%)." This statistic is highly alarming as it represents a nearly 2x increase in loneliness in those who are single. I believe that loneliness would be a huge roadblock to anyone trying to live a happy life. (https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/new-apa-poll-one-in-three-americans-feels-lonely-e#:~:text=Younger%20people%20were%20more%20likely,22%25).)

Comments

This factcheck is strong! It's a good start to have 2 articles that potentially target this fact in a different approach. While relationships in general are very personable and subject to the person in the relationship, that leads to various factors such as the ones you mentioned in the first sentence. I find it interesting that one of the sources take a biblical take on this since in those relationships were encouraged for happiness and evolution. I like that you did follow up with a statistic and the source that deals directly with people in my age range as well as a vast amount of people. Great job, unique take!

Answer 6

This statement can be looked at through the eyes of a person who is single and someone who is in a relationship. The author who wrote this article is credible, Katie Camero, a health and wellness journalist https://www.usatoday.com/staff/8433499001/katie-camero (about her). It doesn't give enough information about people currently in a relationship or married couples. This specific article gives an intro to this idea, but not solid overall evidence. There are more articles that can show this with studies behind them with different perspectives. An example is https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/happy-together/202402/are-single-or-partnered-young-adults-happier it gives backing evidence and surveyed different people not just people who are single. 

Comments

I appreciate your use of multiple sources, and your perspective on the multiple perspectives that this claim can be seen from. Your use of Psychology Today as a source improves a lot upon the claim's original source which is a buzzfeed article. This claim is subjective and you did a great job showing that.

Answer 7

The subject this article is trying to prove is too broad and there are many influencing factors to create an accurate statistic or evidence to support the claim. I am not sure BuzzFeed is the most accurate news source. The evidence they do provide does not prove much since the claim is too broad to be able to prove. Here is a study I found better explaining the claim of the BuzzFeed article. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/02654075221122887

Answer 8

I think this article does a really good job of showing you examples of people who are happy AND singe, but does not do a lot of work in proving that the two are at all related to each other. This article had no experiment or study that scientifically searched for a genuine answer to this question which is why I think it did not prove its point. I would also not consider buzzfeed to be the most credible source of information.

Comments

I think this fact-check does an excellent job of sharing a logical opinion on both the issue and the source. However, I fail to see any of your own sources. IT would be nice to see a source that you provided so that we could get a credible alternative.

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Thank you for pointing out the noncredible use of BuzzFeed as the only provided source. I completely agree with your statement that this is an extremely subjective subject with no concrete way to judge happiness levels in or out of a relationship. In fact, the exact opposite can be argued as well. Although I do not believe that it is as black and white as people in relationships are happy and single people are not, I would like to provide the counter argument with this source. I believe that not every case is the same and happiness applied to relationship status is very abstract and ever-changing.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/09/health/marriage-happiness-wellness/index.html#:~:text=Over%20the%20survey%20period%2C%20married,year%2C%20according%20to%20the%20data.

Answer 9

According to Psychology Today, It is all up to personal interpretation of a relationship. If one perceives a relationship as important, they will most likely be more miserable if they are not coupled up,"They also found that those who dismissed relationships as unimportant were more satisfied with their lives than single young adults who were less dismissive of romantic relationships" was stated in the article, "Are Single or Partnered People Happier?"

Comments

The article that you referenced was written by credible authors, but I would love to see more information from a study done specifically on this issue. The article that you used mentions a study done on the topic, and you could've used more of that to back up your factcheck.

Answer 10

Buzzfeed news claims that people who are single are happier and live more authentic lives. Personally, I am skeptical of this claim right off the bat just because I feel like relationships are personal and this is a broad statement. Even with the statistics I feel like that topic is very opinion based and can be biased based off each individuals experience. When looking this statement up no other news sources credit it and buzzfeed technically is not a reliable news source to begin with. The title on this factcheck is slightly different from the articles title and has just a brief explanation of what is written so there is very minor details. Overall, I personally think this is biased and needs more evidence to back it up.