Special Topic: Media Literacy & Fake News
The way people around the world consume information has changed remarkably in the past few decades. While the introduction of the internet, social media and 24 hours news networks have undoubtedly given us more access to information than ever, it has also made it easier for false or misleading information to be spread. Because of this, media literacy has become more important than ever.
So what is media literacy?
Media literacy is the ability to think critically about the information you consume
. It includes the ability to distinguish fact from opinion, and requires understanding that some media is biased and created to persuade or sell a product or idea. Media literacy is important because it's the basis for being an informed citizen and a critical thinker.
So how can you become media literate? There are several steps you can take to become more media literate and a better informed citizen.
R
ead, watch and listen to information from multiple sources.
Don't put yourself into an "Information Bubble." In other words, don't limit yourself to information sources that only reflect your own viewpoints. Living in this "bubble" can lead to confirmation bias, which is "when we are drawn to information that aligns with our world views and when we hold onto these beliefs, even in the face of compelling evidence to the contrary" (
NPR
). Getting multiple viewpoints allows you to see the whole picture and be less susceptible to bias.
Analyse the information you consume.
The internet and social media makes it incredibly easy for anyone to create and spread false information. There are several questions you should ask yourself before accepting as true (and especially sharing!) a news article, video, or other information.
- Consider the source and other stories coming from that source. Do they seem legitimate?
- Does the story seem one-sided or biased toward a particular point of view?
- Do they provide supporting sources?
If the information is coming from an unknown source, is biased, or doesn't back up their claims with sources, don't accept it as fact, don't use or cite it in your own writing, and absolutely do not share it.
Ask the experts.
Unsure of a story or source's validity? Just ask your friendly neighborhood librarian! Information literacy and research is what we live for.
You can also consult fact-checking sites like
FactCheck.org
,
Snopes.com
, and
PolitiFact
. These sites specialize in checking the validity of the most popular news stories, viral social media content, and statements made by political figures.
Remember: Facts are objective.
There is no such thing as an alternative fact. Although people can disagree on perspective and reasoning, objective facts cannot be disputed. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not to their own facts. Articles, stories and videos can express opinion and still be valid, but they must back those opinions up with facts rather than hearsay, rumors, or otherwise inaccurate information.
