Media misinformation can be dangerous. There is a massive difference between fact and opinion, however there is so much content out there and it can be difficult to spot false information. We hope to provide a guide to you on how to sport false information but also stop the spread of misinformation as well. It's always better to know more, than not enough.
Step 1: Apply the brakes
People are quick to share information they can’t personally vouch for. We need an internal speed bump. Especially if you have a strong reaction, use that as a reminder to step away. Come back in a few minutes and ask yourself: “Do I really know enough to share this?”
Focus on writing and filming your own firsthand experiences and ideas, as opposed to sharing and commenting on others’.
Step 2: Check the source
Take a few seconds to evaluate the reputation of the information source.
This matters because when you share or follow a source on social media, you’re actually endorsing it. That might not be your intent, but that’s how social media software functions — every extra follower gives a source more of a voice and helps it rank higher in the algorithms that decide what we all get to see. Make a rule for yourself that you won’t share until you’ve at least glanced at their profile page.
Step 3: Become a citizen investigator
Sometimes a quick source check comes up inconclusive, but you’re still really interested in the information they’re sharing. Then it’s time to perform what Caulfield calls “lateral reading.” Instead of digging deep into the information at hand, look across the Internet for other sources.
Questions to ask:
Have any reputable fact-check organizations looked into the claim?
Did anybody else report the same thing, perhaps from a different angle?
Where and when was the image or quote created? Try a reverse-image search site, such as images.google.com. BuzzFeed recently debunked a post that had more than 15,000 retweets claiming a McDonald’s restaurant was burning during Minnesota protests. The photo used was actually taken in Pennsylvania in 2016.
Step 4: When you find misinformation, please correct it carefully
Concerned citizens can and should help others not fall for misinformation by leaving a trail of bread crumbs to the truth. Research shows people are less likely to share information when someone has commented with a fact check. Re-sharing the original with a comment can sometimes help to amplify the original source. A better idea, used by some professional fact-checkers, is to take a screenshot of the image or video, and then draw a red X through it and share that.
Source:
"You are probably spreading misinformation. Here’s how to stop" - Geoffrey A. Fowler
The Washington Post
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