Information Authority:

Understanding Fake News

Art Infusion in the Digital Age

January 26, 2022

Cody Fullerton

Data & Social Science Liaison Librarian

There seems to be a lot of disinformation on the internet

Disinformation:

False information deliberately presented as true or real

Misinformation:

False information unintentionally presented as true

It is difficult to sort out the truth from falsehood

"Truth" can be an abstract concept, so we will stick to the word real or fact

It's especially hard when the fact is strange

Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/why-are-there-so-many-references-to-bananas?utm_term=.ogGPQoqjbo#.nwBek0xYZ0

Disinformation is everywhere:

Almost anything can be misleading:

Even established newspapers publish "advertorials"/sponsored content

There's also how our brain processes information to take into account...

Cognitive Bias

Humans have a tendency to believe or look for information that:

(1) confirms the beliefs they already believe

(2) makes them feel good about themselves

(3) makes people they care about look good

Humans have a tendency to discount information that:

(1) questions things they already believe

(2) makes them feel bad about themselves

(3) makes people they care about look or feel bad

Source: Lenker, M. (2016). Motivated Reasoning, Political Information, and Information Literacy Education. portal: Libraries and the Academy, 16(3), 511-528.

What does this mean?

We can believe things without evidence

AND

We can believe things in spite of evidence

How to deal with disinformation and bias:

1. Look at the context:

Think Critically!

Take a look at similar sources
If you are reading a book, look at some reviews
Also, look to see who cited the article, maybe there are opposing viewpoints
Talk to your librarian

Plastic bags are better for our health?

2. Distinguish between opinion and evidence:

All articles are trying to make a point or argue a side
Having an opinion is not problematic if it is supported by good evidence in order to be credible.
*Opinion is not enough*

Innovation-by-numbers: an autoethnography of innovation as violence

3. Check yourself before you wreck yourself

Try and find information that disproves your theory or opinion
Think of any possible counter arguments
Remember we all have biases

THE Infamous Vaccines Cause Autism Paper

Test time!

Questions?

Thanks!

Cody Fullerton

Data & Social Science Liaison Librarian

cody.fullerton@umanitoba.ca

(204) 807-5860