How do you know if the information you see and hear reported online, on the radio, or elsewhere, is the truth?
Is what you’re being told, real?
That’s just one of the dozens of thought-provoking questions I heard danah boyd ask last week at her Future of Information talk at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan.
Sponsored by the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, boyd’s talk was the second in the Future of Information series addressing issues about information, technology, and our society.
In her talk, boyd discussed how technology and social media are affecting our communities and democracy as we consume and share information with each other.
I was fascinated, astounded, and sad as she shared stories of how social media, online forums, misinformation, and conspiracy theories contributed to Oprah Winfrey getting trolled by anonymous, the fictional Pizzagate, and nine church members killed in South Carolina.
As she closed her talk, boyd recommended we all take steps to better understand where people are coming from, to empathize.
The day after boyd’s talk, I attended another presentation, Gimme Some Truth: How to be Sure What’s Real in the Era of Fake News, at our local Plymouth District Library.
It was a great follow-up to danah’s talk, focusing on the impact of misinformation and how you can find relevant and accurate information.
Both talks had me thinking about actions I could take to:
- Better understand other people
- Broaden my perspective
- Ensure what I shared online was based on fact
While I feel I do my due diligence before sharing stories, I discovered several pieces of good advice from both talks that I found useful.
5 Tips to Fight Back Against Misinformation
1. Read Past the Headline
One of the easiest ways misinformation is spread is when people don’t look past the headline or first few sentences of a story.
Headlines are written to draw you in; many people select the “share” button before reading the full story.
2. Consider the Source
Is the story you’re reading from a trusted source? If not, check their site, mission, about page, and contact information.
Is the person reporting the information credible? Check their supporting information, links to resources, date on the story.
Does the story seem unbelievable? Outrageous?
3. Read Stories From Across the Spectrum
AllSides offers balanced news and perspectives of the major news stories of the day, from across the political spectrum.
The layout of the site like many online news site, but you’ll find stories from the left, center, and right point of views underneath the headlines.
4. Recognize Bias
Your background and experiences can make you vulnerable to certain issues.
You may be more accepting of a news story because it aligns with your way of thinking.
Fact checking is more important than ever. Make sure the story you’re reading is based on fact.
5. Take a Break
The 24-hour-news cycle can be overwhelming.
Clear your mind and take a break for several days or a week from social media and news channels.
Resources for Checking News Stories
Here’s a few online resources you may find useful in checking whether a news story is fact or misinformation:
How about you? What steps to do you take to combat misinformation online? Share your advice in the comments.
