Tag: Misinformation

Bookmarked How to avoid sharing bad information about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by Abby Ohlheiser (MIT Technology Review)

Even well-meaning attempts to participate in the news can play into bad actors’ campaigns.

In light of the Invasion of Ukraine, Abby Ohlheiser shares strategies for how to avoid sharing bad information. This includes Mike Caulfield’s SIFT method, as well as the suggestion that unless you actually know the language be mindful of sharing a particular hot-take.

Before you share, ask yourself: Can you personally translate the language being spoken? Are you equipped to research and analyze videos and photos from sources you’ve never encountered before? Although citizen journalism is often deeply valuable, it requires real skill and training to do well. Be realistic about what you’re able to do, and why.

In addition to this, Ohlheiser talks about the importance of being willing to clean up after yourself.

Both Mitchell and Caulfield outlined similar best practices here: If you share bad information on Twitter, screenshot your mistake, post a correction by replying to or quote-tweeting the incorrect information, and then delete the tweet that contains the misinformation. 

It has been interesting to see the prevalence of information, such as the ability to follow the Russian convoy. However, it is the ease of sharing which I imagine can also have detrimental effects.

Liked What Facebook Fed the Baby Boomers by Charlie Warzel (nytimes.com)

Like most of us, they gave little thought to the connections they made. Mr. Young added friends he hadn’t spoken to in decades. When Ms. Pierce joined a nonprofit organization she accepted dozens of friend requests — some from people she’d met only in passing. “I meet people on airplanes all the time and we exchange Facebook handles,” she told me.

But as Facebook evolved, these weak connections became unlikely information nodes. Mr. Young and Ms. Pierce were now getting their commentary from people they hardly knew, whose politics had once been unknown or illegible.