Guarding against misinformation: Simple steps to protect yourself

BY KAHA G.

“‘When fake news is repeated, it becomes difficult for the public to discern what’s real.” Jimmy Gomez

This is a quote I couldn’t agree more with, and it plays a big role in most if not all of the issues going on in the world. In this article, I will discuss three ways you can be misinformed, how it spreads and affects us, and how to protect ourselves.

There are three types of ways you can be misinformed: misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. Although they look the same, they all have different meanings.

• Misinformation is false or misleading information shared without the intent to deceive, which means it could be an honest mistake, or misunderstanding.
• Disinformation is false information spread to deliberately deceive or manipulate the public to obscure the truth.
• Malinformation is information that is based on reality, and it is presented in a way to cause harm, like the information shared to damage someone’s reputation. An example of malinformation is when someone online—like a content creator— says something but people clip it (only show the peculiar thing they said), so it’s taken completely out of context to slander their name or get them “cancelled.”

Now, how does this type of information spread so fast on social media? According to https://today.usc.edu/, USC (University of Southern California) researchers found that social media platforms’ reward systems play a big role in spreading fake news. Instead of just being due to people not thinking critically, the study shows that 15% of frequent news sharers are responsible for 30% to 40% of fake news. Social media encourages people to share sensational content by rewarding them, similar to how video games work. This leads users to share information without checking if it’s true.

Furthermore, behavioural studies show that when people see misinformation, they are more likely to believe it and share it, especially if it’s to show support for a political group, criticize others, or gain attention. Expressing that people are more likely to share fake news if it matches their beliefs, is new, or causes strong emotions.

Misinformation spreads differently on social media than on TV, or in newspapers, which have more checks to prevent false claims. On social media, information can spread quickly with little oversight, and something called “echo chambers” where people only see views similar to their own, make it that much worse. Algorithms play a big role in this as they highlight emotional content.

Additionally, misinformation has a profound impact on the public’s opinions, and their beliefs and behaviour. For example, it can cause people to have wrong ideas about important issues like health, politics, or science. It can also make people more divided, as misinformation often plays on emotions like fear and anger, making people strongly support one side while distrusting others. This is a dangerous and disgusting tactic used by some governments in a time of conflict. Over time, this can lead to less trust in reliable sources like news outlets and experts, making it harder for true information to be accepted.

How can the public combat all this misinformation, and tell the truth from deception? It’s by thinking carefully about the information they come across and being cautious about what sources they trust. It’s important to check if the information is accurate by looking at multiple reliable sources before sharing it.

Fact-checking websites can sometimes help confirm if something is true, or false, but even those have to be verified. People should also be aware of their own biases and how these might affect their judgment. Following trustworthy news sources, avoiding echo chambers, and learning about common misinformation tactics can help recognize and avoid false information. Lastly, although commonly overlooked, taking a moment to think before reacting to emotional content can help stop the spread of misinformation.

In conclusion, it’s important to be careful about misinformation. We can protect ourselves from false information by thinking critically, checking facts from trusted sources, and being aware of our biases. Using fact-checking tools and being cautious about what we share can help stop the spread of misinformation. Staying informed and alert helps keep the information we see and share more accurate and reliable.