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BATON ROUGE, La. — televisionThe misinformation problem isn’t going away — and it’s likely to get worse in the wake of the assassination of former President Donald Trump. Internet platforms like Facebook and X have taken some steps to curb the spread of misinformation and say they’re working on more. But there’s no single way to completely successfully remove all misleading content from social media. So the best defense is self-defense.
Misleading or outright false information (broadly referred to as “disinformation”) can come from websites masquerading as news organizations, political propaganda, or “pseudo-profound” reports that appear to make sense but are in fact meaningless. Disinformation is intentionally false information created with the intent to mislead people with malicious intent. Disinformation is intentionally shared knowing it is false, but disinformation can also be shared by people who don’t know it is not true, especially because people often share links online without a second thought.
Emerging psychological research is revealing some strategies that can help protect society from misinformation. Here are seven strategies you can use to avoid being misled and to prevent yourself and others from spreading misinformation.
1. Educate yourself
The best way to prevent what the World Health Organization has called a “disinformation epidemic” is to understand the tactics disinformation purveyors use to try to manipulate you.
One such strategy is called “pre-debunking” — a method of debunking rumors and lies before you hear them. Research shows that being familiar with the tactics of the disinformation trade can help you recognize false stories when you encounter them, making you less susceptible to them.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed an online game called Bad News, which they show can improve players’ ability to detect false information.
In addition to the game, you can learn more about how the internet and social media platforms work, so you can better understand the tools available to those who are trying to manipulate you. You can also learn more about scientific research and standards of evidence, which can help you become less sensitive to lies and misleading statements about topics related to health and science.
2. Recognize your weaknesses
The pre-emptive dismissal approach works for people across the political spectrum, but it turns out that people who underestimate their biases are actually more likely to be misled than those who acknowledge their biases.
Research has found that people are more susceptible to false information that fits their existing beliefs. This is known as confirmation bias, because people tend to believe information that confirms their existing beliefs.
The lesson is to be especially cautious about information about groups or individuals with whom you identify or agree, whether it’s political views, religious views, racial views, or nationality views. Remind yourself to seek out other viewpoints, and other sources of information on the same topic.
It’s especially important to be honest about your own biases. Many people believe that other people are biased, but they don’t think they are biased — and believe that others are more likely to share misinformation than they are.
3. Consider the source
The media has various biases. The Media Bias chart describes which media outlets are most and least partisan, and how reliably they report the facts.
You can play an online game called “Fake” to see how sensitive you are to different ways news is presented online.
When reading the news, be sure to know how credible the source is — or isn’t credible at all. Double-check reports from other sources with less bias and higher fact ratings to find out who and what you can actually trust, not just what your gut tells you.
Also, be aware that some disinformation agents create fake websites that look like real news sources — so be sure to know which site you’re actually visiting. Research shows that thinking about your thoughts at this level can improve your ability to distinguish fact from fiction.
4. Pause
Most people go online, especially on social media, to Entertainment, connection and even recreationAccuracy is not always a priority. However Few people want to be liars.,as well as The cost of sharing misinformation It can have a big impact on individuals, relationships, and society as a whole. Before you decide to share something, take a moment to remind yourself You value authenticity and accuracy.
Asking yourself, “Is what I’m sharing true?” can help you stop the spread of misinformation and encourage you to look beyond the headline and fact-check before you share.
Even if you don’t particularly care about accuracy, Take a break before sharing It gives you a chance to let your brain catch up with your emotions. Ask yourself if you really want to share it, and if so, why. Think about what the potential consequences of sharing it might be.
Research shows that most misinformation spreads quickly and No need to thinkThe urge to share without thinking can Even more powerful Rather than partisan sharing tendencies. Take your time. There is no rush. You are not a breaking news organization that millions of people rely on for instant information.
5. Pay attention to your emotions
People often share things based on instinct rather than critical thinking. In a recent study, researchers found that people who browse social media in an emotional state of mind are more likely to share more. The likelihood of sharing false information has increased significantly More so than those who go in with a more rational mindset.
Anger and anxiety can make people particularly vulnerable to misinformation.
6. If you see something, say it
Speak out against misinformation. Challenging a friend online may be uncomfortable, especially if you fear confrontation. The person you respond to will give you a link to Snopes Post Or other fact-checking sites that might not like being named.
But there is evidence Identify specific reasons for criticism In the post Provide counter-evidence like links About how it’s fake Effective Technology.
even A brief rebuttal – like “That’s not true” – is more effective than saying nothing at all. Humor—but not mocking others – Yes. Real people and real stories correct wrong information on the Internetpossible efficientif not Even more sosuch as when a social media company flags something as suspicious.
people Trust Others Not just algorithms and bots, but especially algorithms and bots in our own social circles. Expertise or Close the connection Share with others.
Another benefit is that publicly debunking the truth lets other viewers know that they might need to look more closely before choosing to share the truth. So even if you don’t dissuade the original poster, you will dissuade others.
7. If you see others standing up, stand up with them
If you see someone else posting that a story is false, don’t say “well, they beat me to it, so I don’t need to do that.” When more people think a post is false, it’s a sign that sharing misinformation is Widespread opposition from the masses.
Stand with those who stand up. If you don’t, and something is shared over and over again, Reinforces people’s belief that this is possible Sharing misinformation – because everyone else is doing it and only a few, if any, people object.
Allowing misinformation to spread also makes it more likely that more people will start to believe it—because people will Believe what you hear over and over againEven if they knew from the beginning This is not true.
There is no perfect solution. Some error messages More difficult to deal with than othersSome counterattack strategies will work better at different times or with different people, but there are many things you can do to protect yourself and the people in your network from confusion, deception, and lies.
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