The problem of misinformation is not going away and may be getting worse. Assassination attempt on former President Donald TrumpInternet platforms like Facebook and X Several steps have been taken to curb the spread “But there is no method in place yet that has been successful in completely removing all misleading content from social media. So the best defense is self-defense.”
Misleading or completely false information (broadly referred to as “misinformation”) is often found in the news media, political propaganda, orPseudo-profound” Reports that seem meaningful but are in fact meaningless. Disinformation is a type of misinformation that is intentionally created to maliciously mislead people. Disinformation is shared intentionally with the knowledge that it is false, but misinformation is It is being shared by people who don’t know that it’s not trueEspecially since people often share links online. Without thinking.
Recent psychology research has uncovered several tactics that can help protect our society from misinformation. Here are seven strategies to avoid misunderstandings and prevent yourself and others from spreading inaccurate information.
1. Educate yourself
The World Health OrganizationInfodemicUnderstanding ” Tricks used by disinformation agents They are trying to manipulate you.
One strategy is “Pre-banking” – a kind of exposure that happens before you hear a myth or a lie. Research shows that Get familiar with the tricks of the disinformation tradeI can help you Recognizing False Narratives You will be less susceptible to their tricks when you encounter them.
Researchers from Cambridge University said:Bad NewsAccording to their research, Improve player false identification.
In addition to the game, The Internet and social media platforms workto better understand the tools available to those who try to manipulate you. Scientific Research and Evidence Standards,it is you Less susceptible to lies and misleading statements On health-related and scientific topics.
Playing the “Bad News” online game reveals the many ways information warriors prey on people’s psychological weaknesses. (Credit: Screenshot from Get Bad News)
2. Recognize your weaknesses
The pre-banking approach works for people of all political stripes, but it turns out that people who underestimate their own biases are actually more likely to be misled than those who acknowledge their biases.
Research shows that people Vulnerable to misinformation This is consistent with existing views.Confirmation biasThis is because people tend to believe information that confirms what they already believe.
The lesson is to be especially critical of information that comes from groups or people with whom you agree or identify, whether political, religious, ethnic or national. Explore other perspectivesand other sources containing information on the same topic.
It’s especially important to be honest with yourself. What are your prejudices?Many people assume that others are prejudiced, They themselves believe that it is not so.– And imagine this. Others are more likely to share misinformationMore than themselves.
3. Consider the source
There are many biases in the media. Media Bias Chart Which outlet is Most partisan, least partisan Reliability Reporting the facts.
“FakieTo find out how susceptible you are to different ways news is presented to you online, read .
When consuming news, it is important to consider whether the source is trustworthy or not. Not trustworthy at allDouble-check articles from other, less biased, more fact-rated sources and find people and content you can actually trust rather than just distrust. What your intuition is telling you.
Also, some disinformation agents Create a fake website There are sites out there that appear to be genuine news sources, so be mindful of which sites you are actually visiting. Think about your thoughts It has been proven to improve your ability to distinguish fact from fiction.
Think for a moment before deciding to share something online. (Credit: 10’000 Hours/Digital Vision via Getty Images)
4. Take a break
Most people spend their time online, especially on social media, because Entertainment, connection, or diversionAccuracy is not always a high priority. Very few people want to be liars.and the The cost of sharing misinformation This can be very problematic for individuals, their relationships, and society as a whole. Before you share anything, take a moment to think about it. Value truth and accuracy.
Stop the spread of misinformation by asking yourself, “Is what I’m sharing true?” Look beyond the headlines You can also fact-check before sharing.
Without worrying about accuracy, Take a break before sharingIt might give you a chance to catch up with your emotions and ask yourself if you really want to share. whyConsider what the possible consequences of sharing it might be.
Research shows that most misinformation is shared quickly. Without much thoughtThe urge to share without thinking Becoming even more powerful Rather than partisan sharing tendencies. Take your time. There is no need to rush. You Breaking News An organization that thousands of people rely on for instant information.
5. Be aware of your emotions
People often share things based on gut reactions rather than the conclusions of critical thinking. Recent ResearchResearchers found that people who viewed their social media feeds in an emotional state were more likely to The likelihood of sharing incorrect information increases significantly than those who approached it with a more rational mindset.
Anger and anxietyIn particular, people are easily fooled by false information.
6. If you see something, say something
Publicly counter misinformation. It may feel awkward to counter a friend online, especially if you fear conflict. Snopes Post Or other fact-checking sites may not like being pointed out.
But the evidence is Explicitly criticize specific reasoning Post and Provide refuting evidence, such as a link As for whether it’s fake or not Effective techniques.
flat Short-form rebuttalSaying something like, “This is not true” is more effective than saying nothing at all. Humor – not mocking people– also works. Real people correcting misinformation onlinemaybe EffectiveOtherwise moreoverFor example, when a social media company labels something as suspicious.
people Trust other people It’s less about algorithms and bots, especially within our social circles. Expertise in the field or Close ties With the person you shared it with.
An added benefit is that public debunking lets other viewers know that they might want to look into it more closely before sharing it themselves, so even if you don’t discourage the original poster, you’re discouraging others.
Even children know that if they see something wrong, they should speak up. (Credit: Mireya Acierto/DigitalVision via Getty Images)
7. When you see someone standing up, stand up with them
If you see someone posting that an article is false, don’t say, “Well, they posted it first, so I don’t have to say anything.” The more people who say that a post is false, the more likely it is that the sharing of misinformation will increase. Disliked by the whole group.
Stand with those who stand up. If you don’t stand up and the same thing gets shared over and over again, Reinforcing people’s belief that everything will be ok It’s about sharing misinformation because everyone else is doing it and very few, if any, people are speaking out against it.
When misinformation spreads, it is likely that more people will believe it because Believe what you hear repeatedlyEven if you knew it at first That’s not true.
There is no perfect solution. There is also misinformation. Harder to counter than othersand some countermeasures are more effective at different times and against different people. But they can go a long way in protecting yourself and those on your social network from confusion, deception, and lies.
This is an updated version of an article originally published on March 18, 2021.
H. Colleen Sinclair is an associate research professor of social psychology at Louisiana State University. This article is reprinted from conversation Under Creative Commons License. read Original Article.