What Is The Problem With Misinformation Fact Checking As A

Received 2023 May 26; Accepted 2024 Apr 10; Issue date 2024. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit... The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from... To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Current interventions to combat misinformation, including fact-checking, media literacy tips and media coverage of misinformation, may have unintended consequences for democracy.

We propose that these interventions may increase scepticism towards all information, including accurate information. Across three online survey experiments in three diverse countries (the United States, Poland and Hong Kong; total n = 6,127), we tested the negative spillover effects of existing strategies and compared them with three... We examined how exposure to fact-checking, media literacy tips and media coverage of misinformation affects individuals’ perception of both factual and false information, as well as their trust in key democratic institutions. Our results show that while all interventions successfully reduce belief in false information, they also negatively impact the credibility of factual information. This highlights the need for further improved strategies that minimize the harms and maximize the benefits of interventions against misinformation. Subject terms: Politics and international relations; Cultural and media studies; Science, technology and society

This study reveals that current interventions against misinformation erode belief in accurate information. The authors argue that future strategies should shift their focus from only fighting falsehoods to also nurturing trust in reliable news. “Community notes haven’t been very effective,” as a form of fact-checking on social media, says Bhaskar Chakravorti, dean of global business at The Fletcher School. “One problem is that the community interventions often happen too slowly and miss the window when a problematic post is most viral.” Photo: Adobe Stock More disinformation and “toxic material” is likely on platforms, Fletcher School professor argues Meta’s recent announcement that it will discontinue use of third-party fact-checkers on platforms like Facebook and Instagram in the United States has sparked fears of a new era of disinformation on social media.

Meta is switching to a “community notes” model like that used on the social platform X, which could lead to “an increase in toxic material,” says Bhaskar Chakravorti, dean of global business at The... Here, Chakravorti discusses how the elimination of fact-checking may affect our social media feeds. There’s absolutely no question that it’s been effective in labelling and stopping some egregious disinformation; but it is far from perfect because there are so many ways in which problematic content is created and... Visiting Researcher & Co-Director Chevening African Media Freedom Fellowship, University of Westminster Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin-Madison Peter Cunliffe-Jones is a member of the advisory board of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), based at the Poynter Institute, founder of the fact-checking organisation Africa Check, and was senior advisor to the Arab...

Lucas Graves does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. University of Westminster provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK. About this guide: The purpose of this guide is to provide insights and strategies for overcoming confusion around identifying credible information. Over the past decade, our online information landscape has been dramatically transformed. As a result, telling fact from opinion, and identifying credible journalism, has become more difficult. Whether you are a concerned citizen or an educator, this guide is for you.

Misinformation is defined as false, incomplete, inaccurate/misleading information or content which is generally shared by people who do not realize that it is false or misleading. This term is often used as a catch-all for all types of false or inaccurate information, regardless of whether referring to or sharing it was intentionally misleading.Disinformation is false or inaccurate information that is... Wardle created the “7 Types of Information Disorder,” a typology that illustrates and emphasizes the types of information disorder in our media landscape, and this information disorder glossary. This typology was derived from a report commissioned by the Council of Europe. Essential questions to ask when analyzing information center on the authority of the source/author and the purpose of the information: Authority: Who wrote/sponsored it? Purpose: What do they want me to do with the information?

Conspiracy theories and propaganda tap into our deepest fears, emotion, and deeply held beliefs or values. Our tendency toward cognitive biases also helps to make belief in these theories immune to logic. We often wonder how any rational and logical-thinking person could believe in them, but facts don’t win arguments. If you find the tone, language or claims of a piece of information inspire visceral fear or anger, it’s a good idea to investigate the claims elsewhere by cross-referencing them with a variety of... The Ubiquitous Nature of Misinformation in the Digital Age Misinformation, though not a new phenomenon, has reached unprecedented levels of pervasiveness in the digital age.

The evolution from chain emails of the early 2000s to the rapid-fire spread of falsehoods across social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter marks a significant shift in the information landscape. The sheer volume of content coupled with the speed of dissemination makes it increasingly challenging to discern fact from fiction. This challenge is further compounded by the growing reliance on social media as a primary news source, as highlighted by Pew Research Center surveys indicating that over half of U.S. adults utilize these platforms for news consumption. The rise of podcasts, with listenership surging from 9% in 2008 to 42% in 2023, introduces another vector for misinformation. Platforms like YouTube, boasting over a billion monthly podcast users, amplify the reach of potentially misleading narratives.

Adding to this complex web of information dissemination is the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI). AI’s capacity to generate convincingly realistic "deepfakes"—synthetic text, images, audio, and video—blurs the lines between authentic content and fabricated creations, making it increasingly difficult for users to navigate the digital world with informed skepticism. Navigating the Minefield: Strategies for Identifying Misinformation In the face of this onslaught of information, a critical approach is essential. Before sharing any content, pause and assess its plausibility. Resist the impulsive reaction to share information that aligns with pre-existing beliefs – a tendency known as confirmation bias, which is often exploited by content providers vying for clicks and engagement.

Social media algorithms, designed to cater to individual preferences, exacerbate this by creating echo chambers that reinforce biases. Therefore, cultivate a healthy skepticism, questioning the source, evidence, and underlying motivations behind the information presented. Many people share misinformation unknowingly and sometimes with good or altruistic intentions - whether to articulate their perspectives, warn others away from danger or join others in trying to make sense of the world... But some knowingly share things they suspect are false - whether to damage “the other side” in a political debate, get social media likes and shares, or conform to their ideological identities. Bad actors - such as hyperpartisans, trolls and even foreign agents - create and share disinformation to cause division and confusion, to promote political interests and points of view or for financial gain. Use this section of the guide to help you understand what misinformation and disinformation is, learn why people share it and what red flags to look out for.

Adapted content from The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Common misinformation themes and “rumor cues" to look out for: It is said that a lie can fly halfway around the world while the truth is getting its boots on. That trek to challenge online falsehoods and misinformation got a little harder this week, when Facebook’s parent company Meta announced plans to scrap the platform’s fact-checking programme, which was set up in 2016 and... Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription

Receive 51 print issues and online access Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout Serving the Community College of Vermont & Vermont State University Misinformation is false information that is spread by people who mistakenly believe it to be true, while disinformation is false information that is spread with the intent to deceive or mislead others (Encyclopedia Britannica). You might also hear the term "fake news," which is a type of disinformation created and shared for commercial or political reasons. Often you'll see provocative headlines or titles for the purpose of getting you to click through to advertising.

Some politicians or media personalities use the term to describe sources that oppose their views, or to discredit a legitimate source. Regardless of intent or motivation, spreading inaccurate information can cause significant harm. We all share the responsibility of stopping its spread by being critical consumers of information and checking our sources before we share something online. The SIFT method provides great strategies for this. Image source: International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions

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