- We're living today in what is considered a post-truth era.
That means we're living during times
where subjectivity reigns over objectivity.
Any information that we receive in this post-truth era,
it goes hand-in-hand with understanding
that what we see impacts our beliefs
and then impacts our actions.
- In this episode, we're tackling misinformation --
why it's so common, how to identify it,
and what to do when you come across it.
I'm Nicole Ellis.
This is "The New Normal."
- "Misinformation" refers to content that's false,
but that wasn't necessarily created with the intention
of harming a group of people or a country or an organization.
We are constantly looking around for cues that things
are true and false in situations where we're unsure, right?
And we tend to hear things
that are true more times than things that are false.
So repeated information feels truer than new information.
You can imagine, when fake news is being shared repeatedly,
that becomes a problem.
- There was a study that was done
by Common Sense Media in 2019
that actually showed that the majority of students
in our nation lack the skills to decipher
between factual and uncredible information.
That can be fixed through education and skill-building.
- I feel like the challenge and really the bigger issue
that we're all trying to navigate
is how to build those media-literacy skills.
- The first tip is to ask yourself,
"What type of information am I engaging with?
Is this information credible?"
It also helps you understand, as a viewer and consumer,
that all media is created by an individual,
so that individual's perspectives, backgrounds,
and biases may have the ability to impact the messaging,
the content, the imagery of what is presented.
The second step is to check your own biases.
You have to ask yourself certain questions, like,
"Where did I get this concept or this idea or this belief system?
Where did it come from? Is it something that I read?
Was it something that was taught to me?
Is it based off of my religious beliefs?"
When you understand how your beliefs have framed
your approach or the lens in which you see the world,
you will then understand
how that lens can either be foggy or clear
when you engage with media or news.
We have to take an open-minded approach
when we engage with information, because, otherwise,
we may shut out the opportunity to find truth.
- What we don't want is a situation
where people are skeptical to the point
where they're not accepting credible information.
- Research has actually shown that individuals
that engage in active, open-minded thinking,
they are less likely to experience strong,
polarized beliefs online
when they are approached with misinformation.
- But even if you're going in with an open mind,
how do you make sure that what you're looking at is credible?
- So, there's different ways you can do that,
either by fact-checking,
but then there's also this skill called lateral reading.
Lateral reading is when you take different windows
in your screen or on your phone,
and you look at the different sources
and the different articles about that topic
and what is being said,
to look at it from different perspectives
and find that kernel of truth.
- You know, as journalists, it's our jobs
to be looking at multiple sources,
but for everyday people, they just may not have the time.
So I'm curious to hear, you know, what's
the next best option?
- Focusing on things like whether the site is credible
and follows standard journalistic practices.
You'd be surprised -- 59% of links on Twitter
aren't even clicked on before they're shared.
And so those are missed opportunities to notice
that a website is really shoddy and shady-looking.
Often these fake news sites,
if you actually went to the site,
it would be really obvious
that this is not a credible news source.
- If you see someone that has actually
posted misinformation online,
send them a DM and let them know that,
"Hey, that information is actually misinformation,"
and provide a link.
Do not blast anyone online in front of people,
but educate others.
- Misinformation has so many dire consequences,
from, you know, the re-emergence of diseases
that were thought to be eradicated
to harming the environment,
literal violence, political violence.
So, to the extent that we can each play our part
and be more mindful of what we're liking and sharing,
we should do that.
- We're gonna keep covering topics like this, so stay tuned.
For more stories like this one, find us at thelily.
com and washingtonpost. com.