The article highlights the importance of critical thinking and information verification in the age of digital media. She provides practical advice on spotting misinformation and maintaining objectivity when consuming news.
Combating disinformation
Leaks of false data
Consider who can benefit from the spread of confusion in the information space. For example, during an election race, it is worth being critical of contradictory messages and accusations aimed at supporting certain political forces or candidates. Propaganda is actively used in conflict situations by both official and unofficial sources.
However, not all false information is serious. Some content is created simply to entertain or provoke, so treat silly stories with the same caution as serious messages.
Emotion control
If the information causes excessive indignation or, on the contrary, fully meets your expectations, it is still better to check it certainty. Often people unknowingly spread false information that is in line with their views or values. Disinformation groups may seek to inflame supporters, exacerbate conflict between different parties, or generally destabilize society.
Avoid Hasty Spread
Take your time to share information. Social networks encourage the rapid distribution of content without in-depth analysis of its content. Treat everything with skepticism until you are convinced of its authenticity.
Accurate data is not always available instantly. Wait for confirmation before sharing information or jumping to conclusions. News sources are slower than social media because they check facts.
Checking sources
If information is shared by friends or relatives, make sure they got it from a reliable source. Even a verification mark does not guarantee authenticity, so every publication should be treated critically.
If the account is just relaying someone else's words or images, find the original source of that information. The inability to determine the origin is a red flag.
When checking individual profiles, pay attention to the date of their creation, which is usually indicated in the description. Be careful with newly created accounts (within the last few months) or with a small number of followers.
For websites, you can find the year of establishment using Google. Enter the name of the site and click the three dots next to the URL. Select "More about this page" and scroll down the results to see the date the site was indexed by the search engine.
Creating a list of reliable sources
Checking every random profile on social networks is a time-consuming and thankless task, especially with such a stream of new information Instead, trust news from professional journalists. They carefully check information and often use videos or photos from ordinary people only after confirming their authenticity.
Use special news aggregators like Apple News, Google News or Yahoo News, which select news from verified sources and have some moderation. On social media, find or create a list of experts and reputable news outlets that specialize in the topics you are interested in.
AI is not for news
Don't rely on voice assistants and AI chatbots to get you the latest news. They may be inaccurate, outdated, or simply copy information from reputable sources without proper attribution. For example, some chatbots and voice assistants still cannot correctly indicate the winner of the 2020 US presidential election.
Finding More Context
Misinformation is often most actively spread before, during, and after important events. Current events can be accompanied by a chaotic flow of information from the scene.
Try to supplement individual videos or stories with the larger context of what is happening. Engage experts in relevant fields such as foreign policy, cyber security, history or political science. You can also turn to online publications or TV channels that provide such context.
Detecting AI-Generated Images
AI-powered image generation tools make it much more difficult, but not impossible, to detect fakes. Here are a few tips, though there are actually many more, to look for to spot AI images: Look closely at hands, background elements, and inanimate objects. They may have an unnatural appearance. The inscriptions on the signs can be upside down or completely meaningless. Check if the image is too glossy or artistic.
Video and image verification
Note frequent editing splices and strange transitions between frames. Also, listen to the soundtrack and check it with third-party tools like InVid, which helps assess the authenticity of the video. Of course, this is more difficult to do with live video like on Twitch or other social media platforms.
To check for non-AI images that look suspicious, upload them to Google Image Search. Take a screenshot and drag it into the search field. If it's an old image that's been around before, you'll see it in the search results.
Using fact-checking tools
Social networks have their own fact-checking and warning mechanisms. Pay attention to the disclaimers under the posts.
However, due to the sheer volume of content they deal with, a problematic video or post can be seen by millions of people before being noticed by moderators.
Check individual stories or images on fact-checker sites such as The Washington Post's Fact Checker , Snopes and PolitiFact.
Glossary
- The Washington Post is an influential American newspaper known for its investigative journalism
- Twitch - a popular platform for streaming video games and other content
- InVid - a tool for verifying the authenticity of videos
- Apple News - a news aggregator from the Apple company
- Google News - a service for collecting and submitting news from Google
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Answers to the question
How to recognize disinformation on the Internet?
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Discussion of the topic – How to Spot Misinformation and Defend Against Conspiracy Theories: Tips from the Washington Post
The article explores the importance of critical thinking in an age of information overload, providing practical advice on recognizing misinformation and avoiding conspiracy theories on the internet and social media.
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