3 Easy Ways to Shield Yourself From Misinformation Online

A few tips I find most helpful

In our increasingly online and digital world, it is essential to identify and stop the spread of misinformation as much as possible. First Draft, an organization dedicated to combatting misinformation worldwide, defines misinformation as “the inadvertent sharing of false information.” Over the past few years, I have been interested in taking note of some of the best advice and practices when it comes to navigating this exigent issue. Here are three simple ways that you can protect yourself from misinformation online:

1. Be wary of the ‘rabbit hole of algorithms’

In a recent interview for Amanpour &Co., journalist Ronan Farrow highlighted the role that social media algorithms played in radicalizing those who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6th.

Farrow said:

“…The fact that the algorithms built into Facebook are designed so that if you click extremist misinformation, it’s going to send more of that your way. If you search for Rudy Giuliani, you’re going to be sent down a whole rabbit hole — not of information about who Rudy Giuliani is that’s accurate, but about Rudy Guiliani’s worldview and some of the misinformation that he has peddled. And that’s a very hard thing for us to break free of as a society.”

Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, highlights in part how essential it is to protect yourself from unwittingly getting lost inside an algorithm. One way to get around this is to remind yourself to make a conscious and active decision to search for what you’re looking for, even if it is right there.

Computer scientist Jaron Lanier says in the documentary:

“Never accept the video recommended to you on YouTube, always choose.”

2. Keep an eye out for content “manipulating logos”

This insight comes from a Poynter Institute webinar I attended not too long ago on digital fact-checking led by PolitiFact misinformation reporter, Daniel Funke, and I have found the information immensely helpful ever since. Although manipulated images and videos are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to online misinformation according to Funke, it is still important to be aware of this tactic in particular. Not only does this advice apply to staying vigilant of online scams, but it can also alert you to when a digital piece of misinformation, is trying to copy or mimic the branding and logo of a news organization like CNN, for example.

3. Having A Healthy Level of Skepticism About Motives

This is really helpful bit of advice that I first heard mentioned during a First Draft webinar. It is particularly useful when it comes to investigating sources of information, especially on social media. Having a healthy level of skepticism when it comes to motives and encouraging others to do so in a similar fashion can be especially helpful when a sensationalized piece of content is being presented to viewers or readers on popular social media accounts. Some helpful questions to consider are: Is the purpose of this theory meant to get more views? Is there a way that an individual peddling a given theory can be benefiting financially off of clicks or views on their sensationalized content?

While there are undoubtedly many more ways to protect yourself against misinformation, these are just three simple steps you can take.