Introduction
It is an immutable law that when invention or, in this modern era, when new technology strikes our lives, arguments over them polarize us into supporters and opponents. While these innovations enhance efficiency, they also bring challenges and cause problems that we must live with. However, this is also how we have lived and developed our society. It is a natural process when we engage in critical thinking.
These days, since social media has become the common resource for many people to obtain information, the speed at which information spreads globally has become instantaneous. In addition to the ease of engagement with these tools, the algorithm accelerates the audiences’ exposure to the information. This speed is something we cannot regulate “yet” at least at this time, and it is the factor that has made misinformation and disinformation ubiquitous every day.
Choosing the wrong information is pernicious; it weakens your judgment, damages your credibility, and ultimately harms your life. In simple terms, we must protect ourselves from being fooled. We need to recognize that some target us to manipulate for their own benefit. For them, ethics is not a top priority. Why? Because they are focusing on their business, making a profit, or achieving their goals through us. Our attention and eyeballs are money in the digital industry.
In the modern structure of the world where the majority opinion is considered right, it is hard to find the truth, but it is the game of life we live in. The ability to choose correct and trustworthy information is crucial in life where “trust” matters.
So, what can we do about it?
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Know that people make mistakes and so do you. Do not be judgmental about it.
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Case study #1. Why did this information go viral and falsely supported?
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Case study #2. The importance of cross-checking through multiple sources.
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Steps to find trustworthy information
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Know the trusted resources
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Be aware that the algorithm puts you in the echo chamber
Algorithm
Engagement business
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Cultivate your critical thinking ability
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Points to check when encountering information
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Practice Example
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Know that people make mistakes and so do you. Do not be judgmental
Even intelligent people fall for or are misled by false information. Here are examples of two well-known influential people. If you are a fan of them, you may be inclined to support them and believe everything that they say is absolute truth. But it is a harmful act. What you believe, like, and see is not always right.
Case study1. Why did this information go viral and falsely supported?
Donald Trump
During the election campaign at one debate session, Trump claimed that immigrants eat pets like cats and dogs in Springfields. BBC Verify, which assesses credibility, conducted investigations and concluded its baseless and unsound argument. (Thomas & Wendling, 2024)
At the debate, Trump raised the issue of immigration, claiming that the increasing number of immigrants has been creating problems in the US to draw the attention of the audience. He arguably aimed to appeal to voters’ emotions to sway their opinions and decisions. Those who support mainly liberals and oppose Trump may have found the claim just hilarious, nonsensical, or absurd, while others who support him found it shocking or alarming, feeling the country has been at risk easily. The truth behind such claims may not be accessible easily, but it is important not to blindly trust every word that comes from your hero’s mouth. Do not judge by the source alone. Take the time to think and analyze what you hear and see and give yourself some time to find out more information from different angles like when you seek second or third opinions about your health.
Case study2. The importance of verifying information through multiple sources.
Steven Brill
He is the founder of NewsGuard, an organization that evaluates the credibility of sources to help audiences access trustworthy information. One day, news broke that Hunter Biden’s laptop, allegedly containing possibly incriminating materials, had been found. Steven happened to be on a live CNBC interview and commented that it might have been fabricated by Russia or could be a hoax. However, it turned out the news was the truth. Ironically NewsGuard was criticizing only the websites that claimed it was a Russian disinformation campaign. (Brill, 2024, p. 49)
Brill based his assumption and conclusion on his own experiences and intuition without considering other sources. He embarrassed and discredited himself publicly, especially given his role, because he is the founder of the credibility-verifying company. Do not believe everything by its façade and with your only assumption. Additionally, be careful when you state your opinion. Evaluating cases from multiple perspectives, analyzing details, and comparing information are crucial processes for reaching well-founded conclusions.
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Steps to find trustworthy information
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Trusted resources
Conventional media outlets, such as broadcasting companies and newspapers, primarily hire trained professionals to create and deliver quality content for the public. In contrast, in recent years, new technology and social media have made the mass production of information possible. Now, anyone can create content easily without experience. This shift created a noticeable gap in content quality, stemming from the difference between professionals and amateurs. Do not rely on a brief clip you watch on social media. They are often overly simplified and edited. This can lead to a biased or inaccurate conclusion.
When you research online, look for hints about authenticity and accuracy. Compare your findings with other authoritative sites. Note the domain extension can help. (Staley, 2022, p. 163)
The domain suffix provides you with a clue about the purpose or audience of a Web site. The domain suffix might also give you a clue about the geographic origin of a Web site.
Domain
Attributes
Detail
.gov
Government.
All branches of the United States federal government use this domain. Information such as Census statistics, Congressional hearings, and Supreme Court rulings would be included in sites with this domain. The information is considered to be from a credible source.
.edu
Educational institution.
Sites using this domain name are schools ranging from kindergarten to higher education. If it is from a department or research center at a educational institution, it can generally be taken as credible.
.org
Non-profit organization.
Generally, the information in these types of sites is credible and unbiased, but there are examples of organizations that strongly advocate specific points of view over others. Give this domain a closer. Some commercial interests might be the ultimate sponsors of a site with this suffix.
.com
Commercial site.
The information provided by commercial interests is generally going to shed a positive light on the product it promotes. While this information might not necessarily be false, you might be getting only part of the picture. Remember, there's a monetary incentive behind every commercial site in providing you with information, whether it is for good public relations or to sell you a product outright.
.mil
Military.
The various branches of the Armed Forces of the United States.
.net
Network.
It acts as a catch-all for sites that don't fit into any of the preceding domain suffixes. Information from these sites should be given careful scrutiny.
Country domain
Country
.us
USA
.mx
Mexico
.ru
Russia
.cn
China
(University System of Georgia, n.d.)
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Be aware that the algorithm puts you in the echo chamber
One thing we must know about while using the internet is “algorithms” and they can form our world and make us biased easily.
What is “Algorithm”?
An algorithm is a set of rules or instructions designed to solve a problem and optimize a process. It forms the foundational basis for programming and is fundamental to search engines and social media platforms. Many service providers, such as Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and others, have developed their unique algorithms to deliver information that is 'optimized or customized for you.' In other words, each algorithm selects which information to present and which to withhold. Since those algorithms are registered as intellectual property and crucial trade secrets, service providers do not need to disclose them. We do not know how the information is tailored when it is delivered to us and there is a lack of transparency in that regard.
Engagement business
In social media, the more actively your audience engages with your content, the more platforms expand your exposure and promote you or your business. For content creators or influencers aiming to build their business, authenticity may not always be a priority to achieve their goals. Because your attention is their income. Creators work hard to win your engagement while service providers design algorithms that feed you relevant or preferred information, making you addicted to it to maximize their profit.
In 2021, American data scientist, Frances Haugen testified about Facebook’s prioritization of profit over public safety as a whistleblower. She was a former Google and Yelp employee and then joined Facebook as a product manager.
“The firm's algorithm, which decides what people see on a newsfeed, was allegedly programmed to use the reaction emoji as a sign to push more provocative content.”
“The company's own researchers and scientists found that posts prompting angry reactions were far more likely to include misinformation and low-quality news.” (Duell, 2021)
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Cultivate your critical thinking ability
“The whole is greater than the sum of the parts”
The important thing is not to rely on a single source. Learn to dig into the matter from several perspectives. The more you understand, the more quality decisions you can make.
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Points to check when encountering information
Origin
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Where is the source from?
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Who is writing/sending the content?
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Who is supporting the source or sender?
Is it biased?
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Is it fact or opinion?
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Are the creators liberal or conservative?
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Do the creators represent someone or some company?
Purpose
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What are the purpose and messages of the content or article?
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What other arguments from different perspectives are available?
Time
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How fresh is the information?
Technology made
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Are you in the echo chamber and targeted?
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Is the information created by AI or Deepfake?
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Practice Example:
New York Post
Newly arrived migrants linked to crimes in El Paso including drugs, theft and gun threats
By MaryAnn Martinez
Published Jan. 9, 2023 Updated Jan. 9, 2023, 7:41 p.m. ET
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Who owns the New York Post?
News Corp does. It is a multinational media conglomerate based in New York, and it is a public company. They own U.S. and international publishing outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Fox News, The Sun, and others. News Corp's owner is the Murdoch family.
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Is the article biased? Any opinion or pure information?
It provides information and does not include the writer’s opinion.
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If the website provide transparency?
Some information is linked to other sources but once you click them, some of them do not work. But those erased pages are coming from a governmental page (https://www.elpasotexas.gov/), so it may likely be the truth provided originally. The pages were probably erased as they were outdated.
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Who is the writer?
Writer MaryAnn Martinez is El Paso-raised and an experienced reporter in newsroom and journalism. She is a Texas Bureau Chief of Daily Mail at this moment.
Opinion: The article includes public office announcements and comments from the former mayor, which makes the content credible. Additionally, the writer, raised in El Paso and an experienced media specialist, focuses on reporting the situation rather than expressing her opinions. The title mentions “newly arrived migrants” which could give the impression that all or many of them were causing trouble. However, while some migrants were causing issues, others were victims targeted by Americans according to the content, so it is vice versa. Therefore, the title could be improved. This information alone is not enough to understand the situation fully and further article-reading and research will be ideal to find out more accurate information.
Summary
To protect ourselves from the avalanche of misinformation and disinformation, developing media literacy and critical thinking skills has become an urgent task. At the same time, technology has been constantly reshaping society's structure and our lifestyles. We need to continuously adapt and transform ourselves to stay on the right path. Trust and credibility form the foundation of democracy, ensuring everyone has access to accurate information for better decision-making. Each of us must actively safeguard the integrity and transparency of information in society.
REFERENCE
Brill, S. (2024). The Death of Truth. Alfred A. Knopf.
Duell, M. (October 26, 2021). Facebook's algorithm 'promoted toxic and hateful content by giving five points to an angry emoji and only one point to a like'. Daily Mail. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10132759/Facebooks-algorithm-promoted-toxic-hateful-content.html
Staley, C. (2022). Focus (6th ed.). Cengage. https://reader2.yuzu.com/reader/books/9780357792100/pageid/202
Thomas, M., & Wendling, M. (September 15, 2024). Trump repeats baseless claim about Haitian immigrants eating pets. BBC Verify & BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c77l28myezko
University System of Georgia. (n.d.). Evaluating Internet Information, The Online Library Learning Center. https://www.usg.edu/galileo/skills/unit07/internet07_08.phtml