Break The Fake: Verifying Information Online
Have you ever been unsure about whether something you saw online was real or not?
Have you ever shared anything you weren't sure was true?
It isn't just scammers, trolls or spies that make online misinformation a problem: all of us are a part of it when we share things we aren't sure are true. Think of verifying online information as a habit like using seatbelts...you have to do it every time for it to be effective.
Have you ever shared anything you weren't sure was true?
It isn't just scammers, trolls or spies that make online misinformation a problem: all of us are a part of it when we share things we aren't sure are true. Think of verifying online information as a habit like using seatbelts...you have to do it every time for it to be effective.
Test Your Fact-Checking Skills
#1 - Use Fact-Checking Tools
Sometimes a single search can break the fake, if a professional fact-checker like Snopes has already done the work for you.
If no reliable fact-checker has covered it yet, move on to Find The Source or Check Other Sources.
If no reliable fact-checker has covered it yet, move on to Find The Source or Check Other Sources.
Activity #1 - Media Literacy Part 1 - Worksheet
At the bottom of the worksheet is a chart with some questionable headlines. Use the links below and what you have learned to practice your fact-checking skills. Indicate on the chart whether the headline is real or fake.
#2 - Find The Source
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Because it's so easy to copy and share things online, it's important to find out where something originally came from before you decide whether or not to trust it.
- The easiest way to find the source is usually to follow links that will lead you to the original story.
- Use a search engine. See if you can find any information about where the story originally came from and do a search that includes that.
Activity #2 - Media Literacy Part 2 - Worksheet
At the bottom of the worksheet is a chart with questions related to whether the Tweet is real or fake. Use the link below and, using what you have learned from "Find The Source", to answer the questions.
#3 - Verify The Source
Whether you're looking at a website, a photo or video, or a news story, what really matters is whether or not the people who originally created it are trustworthy. You can't always confirm that something is false, but if the source isn't reliable you have no reason to believe it.
To find out if a source is reliable, ask three questions:
1. Do they really exist?
2. Are they who they say they are?
3. Are they trustworthy?
To find out if a source is reliable, ask three questions:
1. Do they really exist?
- "About Us" pages and profiles are easy to fake, so use a search engine or Wikipedia to find out if other people say they really exist. Pay the most attention to things that are hard to fake.
2. Are they who they say they are?
- It's easy to pretend to be someone else online, so once you know the source really exists, you need to find out if what you're looking at really came from them.
3. Are they trustworthy?
- For sources of general information, like newspapers, find out if they have a process for making sure they're giving you good information, and a good track record of doing it.
- For more specialized sources, find out whether they're experts or authorities on that topic. Do a search and make sure that they are an authority in the right field.
Activity #3 - Media Literacy Part 3 - Worksheet
At the bottom of the worksheet is a chart. Use the links below and, using what you have learned from "Verify The Source", determine which source is more reliable.
#4 - Check Other Sources
This step may sometimes be the last one you do, but it could also be the first. It's a quick way of finding out if a source might be biased, or if a news story is true.
Activity #4 - Media Literacy Part 4 - Worksheet
At the bottom of the worksheet is a chart. Use the links below and, using what you have learned from "Check Other Sources", determine what a "solar minimum" is and if the information in the "Weather Warning" article from the Express is reliable. Is there consensus among other news outlets? Using the bit/ly link, what do the science websites say about the topic?
"Make Fact-Checking A Habit" Assignment
Let's watch the House Hippo video. As you do, think of these questions:
- What issue is the public service announcement about?
- How does it make the viewer care about the issue?
- How does it inform the viewer about how to address the issue?
Break The Fake Video AssignmentFor this assignment you will be creating a PSA (public service announcement) message to promote the message that people should not share anything online unless they're sure that it's accurate and not misleading. Your PSA will also show your audience how to do the ONE STEP your group has been assigned.
Decide who your PSA is aimed at:
Keep your audience in mind as you design your PSA. Remember that your PSA should:
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Break The Fake Poster AssignmentFor this assignment you will be creating a poster to promote the message that people should not share anything online unless they're sure that it's accurate and not misleading. Your poster should also show your audience how to do ONE of the SKILLS you learned to check to see if something is accurate or misleading.
Keep your audience in mind as you design your poster. Remember that your poster should:
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