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The conversation surrounding misinformation, fake news, and fact-checking is constantly evolving. As changing technology changes the way we take in information, new cultural and ethical considerations arise. Here is a collection of recent readings, podcasts, and other media we’ve highlighted from around the web that address the latest issues in fact-checking.
What We’re Reading:
- From The New York Times: Don’t Go Down the Rabbit Hole
Digital literacy experts argue that our current information crisis is, in fact, an attention crisis. New research suggests that we should resist overthinking false claims and instead develop a reflex that asks if something is worth our time and attention.
- From The Conversation: Fake news was a thing long before Donald Trump — just ask the ancient Greeks
In ancient Greece, misinformation and the mis-education of its citizens led to the end of Athenian democracy. But citizens didn’t blame the press — they blamed the poets.
- From Scientific American: Until Recently, People Accepted the ‘Fact’ of Aliens in the Solar System
Astrobiologist Caleb A. Scharf tracks historical attitudes and philosophies about the possibilities of alien life. He writes, “In western Europe, during the period from some four hundred years ago until last century, the question of life beyond the Earth seems to have been less of ‘if’ and more of ‘what’.”
What We’re Listening To:
- From Axios: How Memes Drive Misinformation
Why is it harder to detect misinformation when it comes from a meme? Axios reports one reason is that text based phrases are more readily flagged by fact-checking AI. The standard format of memes - photos teamed with text - manipulate context and are often rooted in satire.
In the first part of a series on disinformation, journalist Sarah McCammon reports on how disinformation leads to mistrust in public institutions. She talks to one political scientist who asks, “What does it mean when you see legislators responding with legislative and policy proposals that would be aimed to address a problem that in fact didn't exist in the first place?”
What We’re Watching:
- From HBO: Fake Famous
A new documentary follows three Instagram users who turn into “influencers” by purchasing fake followers and bots to engage with their accounts. The film investigates how what we see online is more fabricated than we often realize.
