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Fake News & Misinformation

Sharing Information on Social Media

(Canva, 2022)

Social media use for news and information continues to climb as more users sign up to platforms and move away from traditional forms of media. 23% of Australians use social media as their primary source of news, of Australians born after 1997 that figure rises to 54% (Park et al, 2021, p.10). With social media so prolific in our daily lives, there is an increasing risk of sharing misinformation.  For example, approximately two-thirds of Australians have come across false information relating to the COVID-19 pandemic on social media (Park et al, 2020). The current 'infodemic' sees communities faced with a deluge of information which includes false information that undermines effective health messaging, creates confusion and distrust in expert opinion, and ultimately results in real-world consequences such as intensifying and lengthening disease outbreaks (World Health Organization, 2022). Given the prevalence of false information in social media it is critical to have a firm understanding of how to how false information can spread and how to identify it.

SIFT Evaluation Process

The SIFT social media evaluation process is designed as a quick, practical list of actions when engaging with social media (Caulfield, 2019).

Stop
When reading a social media post the first and easiest step to take first is to stop. Ask yourself the following questions:
  • Do I know the source of the information?
  • Am I confident the information is accurate?
If the answer to either question is no, progress to the next step in the SIFT process.
Investigate the Source
Take a minute to look into the source of the information. Try to understand the expertise and agenda of the source.
Find Better Coverage
If you are unsure about the claims made in the original source, try to find other reports on the same event.
Trace claims
  • Find the original sources cited by the post.
  • Try to find transcripts or other reports of any quotes used Look at the original context.
  • Check to see if the quote or event was fairly represented
  • .
DO NOT share information until you know what it is.

(Canva, 2022)

 

Examples of Social Media Misinformation

Unlike traditional media where is it easier to distinguish between news articles and opinion pieces, posts on social media are not obliged to clearly label what is news and what is opinion. This distinction is important to be aware of when deciphering information accuracy as opinion pieces are promoting a single viewpoint which typically suits the personal agenda of the author. This is in contrast to news articles which present a variety of viewpoints and seek to establish verifiable facts (Miller, 2020).

 

Deepfakes are videos, images, or audio that are manipulated by software to produce media that appear to be real. Deepfakes makes it appear that real people are saying and doing things they didn’t say or do (Aberystwyth University, 2021).

  • Consider the source - where is it from? Can you verify the source is reputable or from a trustworthy author?
  • Can you see a blurry area in the background of the video?
  • Can you see any flickering?
  • Look at the edge of the face - does it look right?
  • Look at the mouth - does it look blurry or do you notice unnatural facial expressions? 
  • Does the person blink at a normal rate?

 

A filter bubble in an online environment where social media algorithms determine what information is presented to the user. The information presented is based on personal data and demographic trends and is designed to maintain the user's interest. Filter bubbles, also known as 'echo-chambers', gradually limit a user's exposure to different perspectives and ability to avoid bias and fake news. 

Filter bubbles can create an environment where users are presented with information that adheres to their personal biases. Known as confirmation bias, this phenomenon "occurs from the direct influence of desire on beliefs. When people would like a certain idea/concept to be true, they end up believing it to be true...We pick out those bits of data that make us feel good because they confirm our prejudices. Thus, we may become prisoners of our assumptions." (Heshmat, 2015).

 

Warning bells

Be aware of the following:

  • The post claims it is the truth and/or all other sources are lying
  • Contains short, conclusory opinion statements
  • Organised as a list of questions
  • Asks the audience to answer the question
  • The post asks the audience to prove a negative
  • Suggests an insidious plot by a particular group
  • Broken links
  • No References used

(Ad Fontes Media, 2020)

References

Aberystwyth University. (2021). News and Media: Fake news and social media. https://libguides.aber.ac.uk/c.php?g=688883&p=4939302

Caulfield, M. (2019, June 19). SIFT (The Four Moves). Hapgood. https://hapgood.us/2019/06/19/sift-the-four-moves/

Heshmat, S. (2015, April 23). What Is Confirmation Bias? Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/science-choice/201504/what-is-confirmation-bias

Miller, E. (2020, July 15). Opinion, news or editorial? Readers often can’t tell the difference. Poynter. https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2020/opinion-news-or-editorial-readers-often-cant-tell-the-difference/

Park, S., Fisher, C., McGuinness, K., Lee, J.Y. & McCallum, K. (2021). Digital News Report: Australia 2021. News & Media Research Centre. https://www.canberra.edu.au/research/faculty-research-centres/nmrc/digital-news-report-australia-2021 

World Health Organization. (2022). Infodemic. https://www.who.int/health-topics/infodemic
 

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