Post date: Jul 28, 2018 4:53:06 AM
The truth is out there. But online, it feels like it’s harder than ever to find. Consider this sobering statistic from a recent MIT study: on Twitter, lies are 70% more likely to be retweeted than facts. Somehow, the information age became the disinformation age. Where do we go from here?
Digital disinformation obscures a lot of things. But it also makes one thing clear. Being wired together isn’t enough. We need human connections, philosophical connections and intellectual connections on top of our fiber optic cables, wifi signals and server rooms. What happens to information online — that’s on us, too.
It’s not always easy to separate fact from fiction online. But it’s not impossible to stop the spread of information, at least from your own account. Follow these three steps to become a more informed source for the rest of your network.
Compare before you share
Your followers read what you share, so do them a solid. Make sure you know exactly who’s behind the report you’re reading. If you’re thinking about sharing the story, read as many articles as possible from reliable outlets on the ground. Verify a story’s accuracy by tracking down the original source, and make sure that what you’re sharing isn’t perpetuating a hoax. And remember, not everyone gets satire, sigh.
Check pictures using image search
It’s easy to fall for fake images. After all, they *look* like photos. Before you click share on that picture, use Google Image Search to search by file or URL.
Own your mistakes
News moves faster now than at any point in history. It’s ok to share something in error. If you do, edit or delete your post, so that disinformation is no longer in circulation.
Courtesy Mozilla
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