How information literate are you?

9/6/23

In today’s information-rich world, finding information we can trust can require constant diligence. Read this quick review and make sure you know how to recognize what you can, and cannot, believe.  

Start with the basics

Misinformation: Inadvertently sharing false information without intending to cause harm. 

Disinformation: Intentionally sharing false information in order to cause harm 

Learn how to spot mis- and disinformation

Research the source. Who’s sharing this information? If it’s online, does the website sound familiar or have any political affiliations? Cross-check—are reliable news sources reporting the same information?

Check the date. It’s easy to get incensed over an article online...only to realize it was published years ago and no longer applies. 

Read past the headline. It may be a dramatic snippet used as a headline followed by a relatively mundane article. 

Question emotionally charged content. Emotionally manipulative language may be used to get you upset or excited. That’s a red flag. Reliable sources let the facts fuel your response, not emotional language. 

Check your bias. Disinformation thrives on confirmation bias. Avoid the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of your existing beliefs or theories. We all have our bias and effective disinformation uses that to bypass our critical thinking.

What should you do when you spot disinformation?

Don’t engage: Every like, click, share, and comment contributes to the piece’s rate of engagement, which tells whatever website you’re on that it’s good content that they should show to more people. 

Share correct information: For every incorrect piece of information you see or hear, try to share one that’s correct. You want people to talk about what you know is correct, not about what you know is false or misleading.

Report it: Whenever you see disinformation online, report it to ReportDisinfo.org. You can also report most social media posts to the platforms themselves.