Module 2
Role of Media and Information Literacy in Social Media and the Internet
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction
Digital citizenship has become a popular concept because of the increasing internet users and their technology exposure. With the rise of the popularity of the Internet comes the increase in the risk of exposure to harm such as cyberbullying, cybercrimes, internet addiction and identity theft (Abdul Rahman, nd). As a result of these challenges and harm faced by Internet users, the paradigm of digital citizenship was introduced.
The idea of being a responsible digital citizen is no different from being a responsible citizen in general.
Ribble (2008) asserts that digital citizens must possess characteristics such as:
having a deep understanding of humanities,
cultural and social issues related to technology
advocating for responsible use of information and technology
demonstrating personal responsibility for lifelong learning; and
exhibiting a positive attitude toward the use of technology.
In this module, you will learn how to be a responsible digital citizen, how your unique individuality can affect the media and information you consume online and offline, and the ways how you can protect yourself and others online.
Module Objectives
Module Objectives
By the end of this module, you should be able to:
Differentiate
between a journalist and an influencer
Identify
the types of information disorders
Enumerate
the types of disinformation
Discuss
how to call out family members who share false information on social media
Motivational Activity
Motivational Activity
(Optional)
Let's Play Fact of Fake!
Time Allotment: 15-30 mins
Before we start the lesson, let us first test your knowledge on the accuracy and reliability of reports and posts that you see on social media.
Click this link to play the game.
Enjoy playing!
Share with your friends and classmates to see who did better! :)
Discussion
Discussion
A. Social Media and the Internet
A. Social Media and the Internet
Social media has become increasingly popular in the country, especially during the pandemic. Most people relied on the internet and social media for news and information about the disease. They also used these to form connections with other people virtually.
There is no doubt that social media and the internet have helped individuals cope with the overwhelming consequences of a global pandemic that forced us to lock ourselves inside our homes. But what are the implications of this?
Social Media Addiction
Social Media Addiction
Source: Shadan Ali on Vecteezy
According to the Uses and Gratifications Theory by Katz, et. al. (1973), the use of media provides individuals gratification of their psychological needs and motivations. Riva (2016) also pointed out that the use of social media allows people to feel a sense of belongingness and support. With this, users tend to rely on social media which may eventually lead to addiction to the platforms.
What's "Clickbaiting"?
What's "Clickbaiting"?
Source: Clickbait Nutrition
Cambridge Dictionary defined clickbait as “articles, photographs, etc. on the internet that are intended to attract attention and encourage people to click on links to particular websites.”
This means that they are intentionally created and used to capture the attention of the audience. It gives people with malicious intentions to use this as bait in stealing information and violating the privacy of the people.
Do you know there are specific types of clickbaits? To know about them, read this article by Search Engine Journal (2022) by clicking the button below.
Journalist vs. Influencer
Journalist vs. Influencer
With the popularity of so-called influencers nowadays, it is important to determine how they differ from journalists. Let’s find out.
Journalist
A reputable journalist tells a story based on facts, research, and verification of various sources. They are trained professionals who are hired to seek the truth and report it. They usually have an editor to ensure that what the journalist reports is balanced and factual.
Journalists follow a Code of Ethics and they can be sued for libel or defamation in case they fail to follow the rules.
However, be wary of untrustworthy independent journalism nowadays. Such channels are prevalent on YouTube. They use the keywords "TV" and "News" to appear legitimate, and even mimic the rhetoric styles of broadcasters in disseminating fake news.
Make sure you know which journalists and broadcasters are credible and trustworthy. More of this is discussed in Module 3.
Influencer
An influencer is someone who has an impact on a group of people and can usually influence their purchasing decisions. They are usually hired by brands to make content that can help them reach their marketing and sales goals. The information that they usually present is usually based on their opinions and the wants of their target audience. Anyone can be an influencer.
B. Types of Scams in Text and Email
B. Types of Scams in Text and Email
Romance Scams
Romance scams occur when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim.
Watch the video on the right by Find Houston Senior Care (2020) to know more about this type of scam.
Source: Ruffy Biazon on Twitter
Text Scams
Text scams (also known as “smishing”) are done by the scammers to steal your personal information and usually contain links.
Phishing Scams
This type of scam usually comes in the form of an email or text message. Scammers usually send legitimate-looking message such as a bank or credit card alerts, or even utility companies which directs you to a link. Once you have clicked on the link, your personal information will get stolen.
Lottery Scams
Lottery scams are usually sent through text messages or a phone call saying that you have won a large sum of money in the lottery.
Job Application Scams
These are emails or text messages sent which contain information pertaining to job applications. They usually contain links that lead you to malicious websites and steal your information.
C. Information Disorders
C. Information Disorders
We usually associate the term ‘fake news’ with these three types of false and harmful information disorders namely: misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. In reality, these three differ depending on the way they are created, produced, and distributed (Wardle and Derakhshan, 2016).
Examining how mis-, dis-, and mal-information intersect around the concepts of falseness and harm.
Types of Information Disorders
Types of Information Disorders
1) Misinformation
Misinformation is usually spread unintentionally or by mistake. This includes simple things such as mishearing or misremembering details. It ranges from satire to conspiracy theories.
Examples of misinformation are:
inaccurate photo captions
wrong dates
taking satires seriously.
A screenshot from the website of International State College of the Philippines, a satirical educational institution.
Causes for Misinformation
It is important to understand how misinformation spreads from one place to another to determine how to stop it. Information can easily be spread throughout the platforms with just one click.
UNESCO identified three causes of misinformation:
Collapsing traditional business models
Digital transformation of newsrooms and storytelling
Creation of new news ecosystem
2) Disinformation
This act is spreading false information deliberately. This is what we commonly know as 'fake news'. It is done to 'cause harm to others and make people believe that a piece of misinformation is true. These are created to start conspiracy theories or rumors that potentially harm an individual or organization, usually politicians. Some of these include misleading, manipulated, fabricated, and imposter content.
In the Philippines, several major local and international news agencies report that the disinformation system was allegedly utilized as an instrument to gain a political advantage last May 2022 elections (The New York Times, BBC News, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, UP Media and Public Relations Office, The Diplomat).
To know more, click on the buttons below to read the news articles by the said agencies:
"Claims that the introduction of martial law stopped the country being overrun by communists have been spreading for years, and have been debunked by fact-checkers."
Photo Source: BBC News (2022)
Reasons for Disinformation
Earning profit through scams, or taking part in a so-called ‘troll farm’ wherein they are paid to spread false information about an individual or a group of people.
This is also done to destroy or uplift a person’s reputation by spreading rumors that are far from the truth.
To gain political power by causing confusion among the people.
3) Malinformation
Unlike disinformation, malinformation is factual but is used to cause harm to other people or organizations by exposing private information to the public sphere.
An example of this is the posting of private conversations on social media or malicious content that is meant to be private (e.g., revenge porn) but is disseminated publicly.
7 Types of Misinformation and Disinformation
7 Types of Misinformation and Disinformation
1) Misleading content/Propaganda
As its name suggests, contents of this type often mislead people. All mis- and disinformation types are misleading. Propaganda can be misleading and is utilized by the government, corporations, and organizations to influence people’s attitudes, values, and knowledge.
2) False Connection
This type of disinformation is usually done in headlines of articles. Their titles usually share something that is disconnected from the actual content.
3) Fabricated content
These contents are all made up and are completely false.
4) Manipulated Content
Falsification of information or media content that are done to sensationalize the information to make it more appealing to the target audience.
5) Imposter Content
People who spread disinformation usually mimic the branding of legitimate sources such as news agencies to make their content look reliable and truthful.
6) Satire and parody
Although this may not seem like a type of disinformation, satire and parody often fool readers into believing the content by presenting humorous stories as if they are true.
7) False Context
This happens when authentic information is shared within the wrong context so it becomes prone to misinterpretation.
Optional Activity
Optional Activity
Information Disorders and Types of Disinformation
Time Allotment: 30 mins-1 hr
Read UNESCO's Journalism, 'Fake News' and Disinformation: A Handbook for Journalism Education and Training (Module 2) if you want to learn more about information disorders.
Provide examples of the types of disinformation that you usually encounter on social media and the internet.
D. How to call out a family member who shares fake news on social media?
D. How to call out a family member who shares fake news on social media?
There are instances when our loved ones are the victims of information disorders instead of ourselves.
In times of such, what do you do? An HD version of the infographic is downloadable on our course site.
Module Summary (Slides)
Module Summary (Slides)
Click the button below to access the interactive slides.
To proceed in the next module
References
References
Baclig, C.E. (29 April 2022). Social media, internet craze keep PH on top 2 of world list. Retrieved 19 January 2023 from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1589845/social-media-internet-craze-keep-ph-on-top-2-of-world-list#ixzz7qosLzwoI
Federal Bureau of Investigation (nd). Romance Scams. Retrieved from https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/romance-scams
Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice (September 2022). How to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams. Retrieved from https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams
House of Commons Select Committee on Culture, Media, and Sport. (29 July 2018). Disinformation and 'fake news': Interim Report. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmcumeds/363/36304.htm#_idTextAnchor002
Kemp, S. (15 February 2022). Digital 2022: The Philippines. Retrieved 19 January 2023 from https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2022-philippines.
Pace University (2023). Fake News: Misinformation, Disinformation, and Malinformation/ Retrieved from https://libguides.pace.edu/fakenews
PEN America. (2020). How to Talk to Friends and Family Who Share Misinformation. Retrieved from How to Talk to Friends and Family Who Share Misinformation - PEN America
Wardle, C. and Derakhshan, H. (2017). Information disorder: Toward an interdisciplinary framework for research and policy making. Council of Europe Report. Retrieved from Information disorder: Toward an interdisciplinary framework for research and policy making (coe.int)
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