Menu Close

Articles on Online misinformation

Displaying all articles

Joining up with someone who holds a different perspective influences your take on online posts. Frazao Studio Latino/E+ via Getty Images

People dig deeper to fact-check social media posts when paired with someone who doesn’t share their perspective – new research

A new study unexpectedly found a way to help people assess social media posts with less bias and more care – pairing them up with partners who have a different perspective.
We feel rewarded by reactions to information we share, and that can lead to good and bad habits. Linka A Odom/DigitalVision via Getty Images

Social media can in fact be made better: Research shows it is possible to reward users for sharing accurate information instead of misinformation

Fighting misinformation doesn’t have to involve restricting content or dampening people’s enthusiasm for sharing it. The key is turning bad habits into good ones.
If your instincts say a lot of images on Facebook are misleading, you’re right. AP Photo/Jenny Kane

Visual misinformation is widespread on Facebook – and often undercounted by researchers

The flood of misinformation on social media could actually be worse than many researchers have reported. The problem is that many studies analyzed only text, leaving visual misinformation uncounted.
Beset by advertisements and noxious information, our attention is increasingly fractured. Shutterstock

When critical thinking isn’t enough: to beat information overload, we need to learn ‘critical ignoring’

Lateral reading, self-nudging and a persistent refusal to feed the trolls are some of the ways one can better manage information.
Online misinformation is a serious issue. But experts have helpful tips that can help us navigate it. (Shutterstock)

5 expert tips to protect yourself from online misinformation

The amount of content available online makes policing misinformation extremely difficult. But there are steps we can all take to better ensure the credibility of what we see online.
A woman holds a sign during a protest over shutdowns to control the spread of COVID-19 in April of last year. (Shutterstock)

In order to be saved from misinformation, we need to be exposed to it

Empowering current and future generations to detect and dismiss false and misleading information will be pivotal in developing a democracy resilient to the threat of online misinformation.

Top contributors

More