Fake news is rampant and is a growing threat. High technological advances and high-end gadgets or applications have made it harder to spot. Students and teachers alike speak of “fake news” as a problem but both have become victims of such one way or another.
"Fake news” is an umbrella term for both misinformation and disinformation. Misinformation is false information that is spread, but not necessarily on purpose (ie. misleading headlines) Disinformation is purposely created to mislead and deceive like deep fakes (videos created with sophisticated artificial intelligence) and shallow fakes (videos that are real but misrepresented). There’s also this new term: malinformation — it is information that was intended to harm others (revenge porn, doxing).
As of late, media is no longer passively consumed. It is created, shared, commented on, attacked, and defended in all ways by millions of netizens. The algorithms are also brilliantly designed so that when we go online or log in to a social network we are generally presented with articles and content based on our own searches online. This content, seen by most, tends to reflect our own views, likes, reactions, and beliefs and therefore isolates us from differing views and opinions (the filter bubble).
As far back as the late 1800s, fake news has existed. The difference is how fast information goes around because of digital media. This makes it more dangerous. Remember the “Repetition Theory”? The more a lie is repeated, the more likely people are to believe it? Once we buy the lie, changing our minds is a challenge. This is why it pays, to be skeptical at times. Much more if we are in an academic environment like the university. You can’t just take everything at its face value. It also pays to be well-read and well-informed because if you are not, chances are, you’re not going to question anything you read.
It is best for teachers and students to have a healthy level of skepticism. In our minds, before reacting and most especially before sharing, it would be good to verify the information first: Triangulation (confirming a story in at least three news sources) and Lateral Reading (opening up new tabs in your browser to investigate sites or claims as you encounter them).
THIS MEANS everyone must learn to hold off on sharing posts until it is verified. Teachers must teach students news literacy skills. Students must arm themselves with those skills to be able to spot fake news. This is more important now that social media are being weaponized to suppress dissent and to spread such misinformation and disinformation. Social media has become our public plaza where we get updates, and facts, discuss ideas and share our informed opinions and views. By being very careful and spending extra time on triangulation and lateral reading, we can make informed decisions in the end and be better consumers (or producers) of information.
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