University of Kwazulu-Natal

How To Protect Yourself Against Disinformation Medium

Bonisiwe Shabane
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how to protect yourself against disinformation medium

Includes Resources, Fact-Checking and Talking To Your Children When we can’t agree on what’s true, we can’t agree on anything. That’s why misinformation and disinformation (MDI) is so dangerous for our democracy – and why we all have a duty to combat it. In this guide, you’ll learn all about MDI: what it is, how to recognize it, and what to say to loved ones to keep them from falling for it. What Are Misinformation and Disinformation? First, let’s define our terms, misinformation and disinformation, often combined into MDI.

Find out about ten practical steps to identify disinformation, protect those around you and strengthen democratic resilience against manipulation. Disinformation is deliberately manipulated content, spread to deceive or fool an audience and achieve strategic, political, or economic goals. It is often spread by malign actors who aim to undermine trust in democratic institutions or influence elections.Disinformation is dangerous for democracy because it distorts public debate, polarises society and hinders people's ability to... Here are 10 easy steps you can take to recognise and stop the spread of disinformation: Watch out for headlines designed to generate engagement without regard for accuracy. Look at news content beyond sensational headlines and prioritise substance over sensationalism.

One of the best ways of working out whether something is disinformation is by paying attention to the kind of language it uses. Remain cautious of emotionally charged news stories, as they may be part of a foreign interference campaign designed to influence public opinion. Deceptive language and vague assertions are also frequently used to mislead readers. Look for clear, emotion-free and evidence-based reporting. Posted August 24, 2023 | Reviewed by Gary Drevitch At the pitched extremes of the American political spectrum, each side thinks the other is off the rails and taking the country toward doom.

In this environment of intense perceived threats, demagogues and megalomaniacs can operate in the political, religious, business, and interpersonal spheres. In the public domain, they can capture and enhance an ecosystem of fears, resentments, and perceived threats to amplify themselves and, they propose, their group. They anoint themselves as heroes and saviors, and scapegoat, vilify, pillory, dehumanize, tar-and-feather, and demonize their opposition. They "win" by making us forget our shared humanity. For many of us in the internet age, there is little or no filter to ensure that the information and leadership we are getting is accurate, comprehensive, and free of bias. Many of us are left to our own devices to decide whom to follow and what to believe in.

We must be on guard against malicious actors whose intent is to deceive and enrage us into becoming tools for their wiles. We are all vulnerable or can be made vulnerable, and the consequences can be disastrous on personal and societal levels. Here are some questions we should all ask as we evaluate those who are asking for our attention, loyalty, labor, or vote: Outrage motivates. Outrage is clickbait, it sells papers, and it turns out voters. Full disclosure: I’m often quite outraged at the words and actions of some conservatives.

But I’m using the above questions to put limits on how I respond to my own sense of threats against the vulnerable and marginalized in our society. Those who threaten are still human, and entitled to their opinions—but not control over vulnerable lives. In an increasingly interconnected world, the rapid spread of information has become a double-edged sword. While facilitating communication and knowledge sharing, the digital age has also given rise to a pervasive challenge: disinformation. Defined as deliberately false or misleading information spread with the intent to deceive or manipulate, disinformation poses a significant threat to democratic processes, public health, and societal cohesion. Recognizing the urgency of this issue, the European Parliament has outlined ten crucial steps individuals can take to protect themselves and others from the insidious influence of disinformation.

These steps, ranging from critical thinking and source verification to media literacy and responsible sharing, provide a comprehensive framework for navigating the complex information landscape and fostering a more resilient and informed society. The first line of defense against disinformation lies in honing one’s critical thinking skills. This involves questioning the information encountered online, considering the source’s credibility and potential biases, and looking for evidence-based arguments rather than emotional appeals. It’s essential to be wary of sensational headlines, overly simplistic explanations, and information that confirms pre-existing beliefs without critical evaluation. Cross-checking information with reputable fact-checking organizations and seeking diverse perspectives are crucial components of this process. Furthermore, understanding the difference between disinformation (intentionally false) and misinformation (false but not intentionally spread) is key to discerning the nature of the information consumed.

Identifying the source of information is paramount in assessing its reliability. Scrutinizing the website or social media profile, checking the author’s credentials and potential conflicts of interest, and looking for transparency regarding funding and ownership are crucial steps. Be wary of anonymous sources, websites with unusual domain names, and content lacking proper attribution. Beware of manipulated media, such as deepfakes, which use artificial intelligence to create realistic but fabricated videos or audio recordings. Recognizing the hallmarks of disinformation campaigns, such as coordinated inauthentic behavior and the use of bots and trolls to amplify misleading narratives, is also essential. Developing robust media literacy skills is paramount in navigating the digital age.

This involves understanding how information is produced, disseminated, and consumed, recognizing the role of algorithms in shaping online experiences, and being aware of the various media formats and their potential for manipulation. Learning to identify different types of bias, such as confirmation bias and negativity bias, is crucial for objective information processing. Engaging in critical analysis of media messages, evaluating the language used, and identifying underlying assumptions or agendas is essential for discerning credible information from misleading narratives. Participating actively in media literacy initiatives and promoting media education within communities are crucial for building collective resilience against disinformation. Supporting fact-checking organizations, engaging in constructive dialogues about media consumption habits, and sharing media literacy resources with family and friends can foster a more informed and discerning public. Encouraging critical thinking and media analysis in educational settings is essential for equipping future generations with the skills necessary to navigate the complex information environment.

The following six action steps can help protect you from misinformation and disinformation. It’s probably not surprising that awareness is the first step in protecting yourself. In order to identify misinformation and disinformation, you first need to know what they are and what they might look like: Also of importance is understanding how these falsehoods can become threats to you, both individually and as a member of a larger society. Explore the AVID Open Access article, Understanding the Basics of Misinformation and Disinformation, to learn more. This action item also involves awareness.

If you are aware of how bad actors are trying to draw you in and manipulate you with disinformation, you can be on the lookout for potential deception. If you don’t know what to look for, it’s very difficult to notice misinformation, and it will be much easier to get fooled. To help you and your students develop the skills needed to identify disinformation, the University of Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab has developed an interactive learning experience called Bad News. This game-based activity encourages you to take on the role of a disinformation agent in order to raise awareness of their tactics. Based partly on recommendations from the European Parliament, here are some ways you can protect yourself against fake or misleading information. 1) Stay vigilant.

Investigate beyond headlines and watch out for sensationalist titles. 2) Pay close attention to language. Is the language biased? Does it provoke an emotional reaction? Is the reporting evidence-based? 3) Verify the source, including its mission and potential funding streams.

4) Fact-check and cross-check both written information and images and videos. You can use the Panitza Library resources to help you do this. Through our subscriptions, we have access to dozens of reputable news sources online and you can avoid paywalls, while still using your own device. Contact the library if you need help with this. We’re all swimming in an unprecedented flow of information thanks to the internet, AI, and social media. While these tools have broadened our access to knowledge, they’ve also created an environment where disinformation thrives.

Disinformation – the deliberate spread of false or misleading information – threatens systems that rely on shared facts. Here are 20 everyday ways to counteract disinformation and protect our nation’s fundamental democratic principles. Understand what disinformation is and how it spreads. Recognize common tactics, such as fake news, deepfakes, and manipulated images. Before sharing or believing information, check its source and credibility. Fact-check using reliable fact-checking organizations like Snopes, FactCheck.org, and PolitiFact.

Don’t rely on a single source. Cross-reference information with multiple reputable sources to ensure accuracy. This is known as critical reading or reading horizontally.

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