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By now weve all agreed the term fake news is unhelpful, but without an alternative, were left awkwardly using air quotes whenever we utter the phrase. The reason were struggling with a replacement is because this is about more than news, its about the entire information ecosystem. And the term fake doesnt begin to describe the complexity of the different types of misinformation (the inadvertent sharing of false information) and disinformation (the deliberate creation and sharing of information known to be false).
To understand the current information ecosystem, we need to break down three elements:
This matters. As Danah Boyd outlined in a recent piece, we are at war. An information war. We certainly should worry about people (including journalists) unwittingly sharing misinformation, but far more concerning are the systematic disinformation campaigns. Previous attempts to influence public opinion relied on one-to-many broadcast technologies but, social networks allow atoms of propaganda to be directly targeted at users who are more likely to accept and share a particular message. Once they inadvertently share a misleading or fabricated article, image, video or meme, the next person who sees it in their social feed probably trusts the original poster, and goes on to share it themselves. These atoms then rocket through the information ecosystem at high speed powered by trusted peer-to-peer networks.
This is far more worrying than fake news sites created by profit driven Macedonian teenagers.
Back in November, I wrote about the different types of problematic information I saw circulate during the US election. Since then, Ive been trying to refine a typology (and thank you to Global Voices for helping me to develop my definitions even further). I would argue there are seven distinct types of problematic content that sit within our information ecosystem. They sit on a scale, one that loosely measures the intent to deceive.
If were serious about developing solutions to these problems, we also need to think about who is creating these different types of content and why it is being created.
I saw Eliot Higgins present in Paris in early January, and he listed four Ps which helped explain the different motivations. Ive been thinking about these a great deal and using Eliots original list have identified four additional motivations for the creation of this type of content: Poor Journalism, Parody, to Provoke or Punk, Passion, Partisanship, Profit, Political Influence or Power, and Propaganda.
This is a work in progress but once you start breaking these categories down and mapping them against one another you begin to see distinct patterns in terms of the types of content created for specific purposes.
Finally, we need to think about how this content is being disseminated. Some of it is being shared unwittingly by people on social media, clicking retweet without checking. Some of it is being amplified by journalists who are now under more pressure than ever to try and make sense and accurately report information emerging on the social web in real time. Some of it is being pushed out by loosely connected groups who are deliberately attempting to influence public opinion, and some of it is being disseminated as part of sophisticated disinformation campaigns, through bot networks and troll factories. (As you can see I need to work up a 3D matrix to map my graph against the different dissemination mechanisms).
As this Buzzfeed article highlights, a group of US Trump supporting teenagers have connected online to influence the French election in April. They have shared folders of sharable meme-shells so even those who cant speak French can drop visuals into hashtag streams. Its now incredibly easy for loosely connected groups to mobilize, using free tools to co-ordinate private messaging.
When messaging is co-ordinated and consistent, it easily fools our brains, already exhausted and increasingly reliant on heuristics (simple psychological shortcuts) due to the overwhelming amount of information flashing before our eyes every day. When we see multiple messages about the same topic, our brains use that as a short-cut to credibility. It must be true we say Ive seen that same claim several times today.
On the night of the Inauguration attendees at the Deploraball boasted to This American Life they memed Trump into the White House. Listen to an excerpt.
They understand that were much less likely to be critical of visuals. Were much less likely to be critical of information that supports our existing beliefs. And, as information overload exhausts our brains, were much easier to influence.
We all play a crucial part in this ecosystem. Every time we passively accept information without double-checking, or share a post, image or video before weve verified it, were adding to the noise and confusion. The ecosystem is now so polluted, we have to take responsibility for independently checking what we see online.
In the weeks after the US election, we saw journalists track down fake news creators.One consistent element was that creators talked about trying to create news that would fool people on the Left and how they failed. As fake news creator Jestin Coler told NPR, Weve tried to do similar things to liberals. It just has never worked, it never takes off. Youll get debunked within the first two comments and then the whole thing just kind of fizzles out.
But liberal debunking primacy was short lived. Since Trumps inauguration, were seeing both sides falling for and sharing false information.Whether its the rogue Twitter accounts that no one has been able to independently verify, the Trump executive order meme generator, users re-tweeting a post by Jill Steins parody account desperately wanting it to be real, or claiming Vice-President Pence has deleted a tweet condemning the Muslim ban when it was still sitting on his timeline from December, the Left is showing that it is just as human as the Right. When humans are angry and fearful, their critical thinking skills diminish.
Craig Silverman was a guest on the On The Media radio show and talked about the need for emotional skepticism. I couldnt agree more. This isnt just about funding more news literacy projects, this is about teaching people to second guess their instinctual reactions. If you find yourself incredibly angry at a piece of content or feeling smug (because your viewpoint has been reaffirmed), take another look.
In the same way that youre told to wait 20 minutes before you reach for a second helping of food, because you need to wait for your brain to catch up with your stomach, the same is true with information. Maybe you dont need to wait 20 minutes before clicking the share button, but two minutes is probably sensible.
This is a crucial time. If were going to truly understand the situation we find ourselves in, we need to understand the severity and we need to understand what were fighting. Throwing the term fake news around, even with air quotes, is getting us nowhere.
If you are interested in this topic. I have created an ongoing reading list.
See more here:
Fake news. It's complicated. - First Draft
- [Webinar] #FreeSpeech: Perspectives from the UK and the US on Social Media Liability for Fake News, Damaging Content and Censorship - July 29th, 9:00... [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Wake up, America; discount the fake news - News from southeastern Connecticut - theday.com [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- People are injecting themselves with bleach because of fake news, says senior MP - Telegraph.co.uk [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Turning Fake News on its Head: Stalin Lives Again to Reveal Deep Truth - Canada NewsWire [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- MHA says migration during COVID-19 lockdown was triggered by fake news about its duration - The New Indian Express [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Fake news of Rafale crash circulated in Pakistan using bogus handles - THE WEEK [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Election fake news weekly report to monitor New Zealand campaigning - RNZ [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Think more, share less: How to avoid falling for misinformation, disinformation and fake news - KING5.com [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- 'The Social Dilemma': Netflix's documentary and what it means for startups - EU-Startups [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- With the election campaign underway, can the law protect voters from fake news and conspiracy theories? - The Conversation AU [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Technology has given amazing possibilities of communication but fake news remains a concern - India TV News [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Man falsely accused of shooting deputies received threats - Los Angeles Times [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Letter: No need to rely on fake news and ignore good Trump news - Thehour.com [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Conspiracy mentality linked to the acceptance of fake news about science - PsyPost [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- We're launching an election-season ad campaign to fight fake news, and we need your help - USA TODAY [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Investigative journalist will address 'fake news' in virtual talk - Ripon Commonwealth Press [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- Misinformation Is Hyperlocal. Attempts to Counter It Should Be, Too. - Foreign Policy [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Beware of Fake News On City Council Races - Odessa American [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- 'Manipulated and fake': NTA rubbishes news claiming topper in ST category was given wrong 'failed' result in NEET - The New Indian Express [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- REFILE-'Not fake news:' COVID-19 cases surge in Wisconsin ahead of Trump campaign rally - Reuters [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- Trump duped by fake news story of Twitter going down to protect Biden - Global News [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- Poor numerical literacy linked to greater susceptibility to Covid-19 fake news - The Guardian [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- Mboweni responds to reports of hard lockdown in SA: 'Fake news' - Briefly [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- The steady growth of unreliable news sites is an addition to the list of terrible things that happened in 2020 - Digital Information World [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- Problem posed by disinformation online increasingly serious, says BBC boss - The Independent [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- Congress trolls trying to shield Rahul Gandhi left red faced after party confirms Wayanad MP is on vacation - OpIndia [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- Hitting two birds with one stone: China develops fake news factories to fill the information vacuum and curb - DNA India [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- The Hindu journalist accused of publishing fake news because his wife was not given insurance business: Details - OpIndia [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- A Tale as old as Time: Proliferation of 'fake news' may have even preceded the birth of Christ | Recto Mercene - Business Mirror [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- The FBI, Comic Pros and the Fake News Controversy of the 1964 Election - Bleeding Cool News [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- Actor Sushant Singh continues to share fake news, this time lies about the release of suspended cop DSP Davinder Singh - OpIndia [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- @RealSanta: Perfect Christmas expected at N. Pole, all that other stuff is 'Fake News' - KCAW [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- FAKE NEWS | SANDF denies claims that members' leave is cancelled due to Covid-19 surge - News24 [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- Totally Not Fake News: Texans Stars Punished for Violation of COVID Protocols, Filing Appeal - Battle Red Blog [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- Alternative facts, witch-hunt, bigly: the Trump era in 32 words and phrases - The Guardian [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- Conservative Twitter users dominate the discussion of fake news about the coronavirus, study finds - PsyPost [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- Fake News Buster: Vaccines have only helped to save lives - Bangalore Mirror [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- Covid fake news can be fatal, govts need to step in: Study - The Tribune India [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- CBSE Board Exam 2021: Only those passing Pre-Board to get admit card? Here's the truth - India TV News [Last Updated On: January 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 15th, 2021]
- The Ferguson Report: Fake news you can trust - The New Daily [Last Updated On: January 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 15th, 2021]
- Media reports on closure of All India Radio stations are fake news: Prasar Bharati - Northeast Now [Last Updated On: January 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 15th, 2021]
- Church cautions constituency not to be misled by fake news over Covid-19 vaccine - Independent Online [Last Updated On: January 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 15th, 2021]
- Fake News Alert! The Viral Picture Of Anushka Sharma With Her Newborn Is A Stock Image - Mashable India [Last Updated On: January 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 15th, 2021]
- Lena urges to stop spreading fake news; shares that she hasnt tested positive for COVID-19 - Times of India [Last Updated On: January 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 15th, 2021]
- Why fake news is here to stay - Washington Times [Last Updated On: January 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 15th, 2021]
- Fake US leg band gets pigeon a reprieve in Australia - ABC News [Last Updated On: January 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 15th, 2021]
- Alarm in UK over fake news prompting non-whites to reject Covid vaccination - Hindustan Times [Last Updated On: January 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 15th, 2021]
- RRC commissioner vents at France, fake news and the woke [Opinion] - Houston Chronicle [Last Updated On: January 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 15th, 2021]
- Totally Not Fake News: The Burning Question of Our Time - Battle Red Blog [Last Updated On: January 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 15th, 2021]
- Anyone can fall for 'fake news,' conspiracy theories: The psychology of misinformation - USA TODAY [Last Updated On: January 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 15th, 2021]
- Level 4 lockdown message on WhatsApp slammed as fake news - IOL [Last Updated On: January 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 17th, 2021]
- "The suggestion street races will not take place are completely wrong"- F1 calls Monaco GP cancellation... - The Sportsrush [Last Updated On: January 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 17th, 2021]
- Ravish Kumar apologises for spreading fake news about paddy procurement by govt after letter to NDTV by PIB: Here is what he said - OpIndia [Last Updated On: January 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 17th, 2021]
- NAACP says Viral Warnings About Threats of Violence is "Fake News" - caribbeannationalweekly.com [Last Updated On: January 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 17th, 2021]
- Rob Lowe on Whether That Prince Harry Ponytail Story Was 'Fake News' - Extra [Last Updated On: January 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 17th, 2021]
- On the Record, Jan. 16, 2021: Media and fake news - WRAL.com [Last Updated On: January 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 17th, 2021]
- Fake news and science denier attacks on vaccines. What can you do? - DocWire News [Last Updated On: January 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 17th, 2021]
- How will the EU's new act deal with online lies and fake news? law - RTE.ie [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Fake News and Kashmir Media - Brighter Kashmir [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Pupils will learn how to spot fake news on Safer Internet Day - On The Wight [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Andy Farrell dismisses predictions of Ireland canter in Cardiff as fake news - Irish Mirror [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- DNA exclusive: Prakash Javadekar`s first reaction on fake news - Zee News [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Opinion: QAnon, conspiracy theories are no joke - DW (English) [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- TikTok adding new features to stop fake news and misinformation spreading - Dexerto [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- DNA exclusive: Anurag Thakur`s first reaction on fake news - Zee News [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Opinion: Fake news, pandemic, evolving job market a liberal education is needed more than ever - Calgary Herald [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Gangland criminals spreading expensive fake news, garda warn - The Irish Times [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Fake news and conspiracy theories risk to vaccine roll-out in Dudley - Stourbridge News [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- LIVING IN THE AGE OF FAKE NEWS - DAWN.com [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Fake news? No, it really is Macquarie Dictionarys word of the decade - Sydney Morning Herald [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Opinion | Social media sites need to monitor fake news - UI The Daily Iowan [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Journalist identities hijacked to spread fake news - Axios [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Verified Twitter Users Shared an All-Time-High Amount of Fake News in 2020 - PCMag [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Totally Not Fake News: The Great Debate Within the Houston Texans Front Office - Battle Red Blog [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Fake: Govt is not giving Rs 1.2 lakh to employees who have worked between 1990-2021 - Oneindia [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2021]
- Himansh Kohli Opens Up About His Angry Reaction to the Fake News of Apologising to Ex Neha Kakkar - Yahoo India News [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2021]
- Rahul Gandhi spreads fake news about train ticket fares being doubled: Here is the truth - OpIndia [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2021]
- Is Facebook responsible for launching the concept of "fake news"? Film Daily - Film Daily [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2021]
- Min cautions against fake news after 'assault' - The Shillong Times [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2021]
- Opinion | Dont Go Down the Rabbit Hole - The New York Times [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2021]