In the News:
Misinformation, circulated via the web, continues to be a topic of concern in information security. For example, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, accurate, vetted, and verifiable medical information has become even more vital and sought after, while simultaneously becoming arguably more challenging to access on the web. The Harvard Gazette recently addressed this topic in its Health and Medicine article, “Battling the ‘pandemic of misinformation.’” Facebook, Google, and other popular web platforms utilize independent fact-checkers, but that measure alone can’t completely quell the flow of misinformation spreading rapidly on the sites. Politico’s “‘It’s overwhelming’: On the frontline to combat coronavirus ‘fake news‘” offers an interesting take on the efficacy of independent fact-checking.
Another high-profile example of misinformation spreading on social media centered around the recent protests across the country. In this case, several Twitter accounts shared an image of a large fire near the Washington Monument. Of course, the image was later identified as a scene from the TV show, Designated Survivor (The Washington Post).
Our Take:
In a social media environment where anyone can have a platform with the creation of a free account, misinformation is not going away any time soon. Once an article is posted, it can be quickly shared repeatedly by readers who don’t verify the information’s source or its validity. The intent behind sharing misinformation can range from lack of knowledge to more nefarious attempts by individuals or groups to sow division and create panic.
Although social media entities work to remove content flagged as misinformation, the suppression of misinformation by these companies is not enough to prevent it entirely. It is increasingly important for social media users to commit to avoiding sharing information from non-objective sources and to flag known misinformation.
Recommendations:
- Verify, verify, verify. For example, does the medical advice come from a legitimate medical source? Is that tweet originally from a trusted account? Verification can be difficult, especially when people you know are sharing misinformation. Always check the original source of the information and see if you can find the same news from an objective source that you trust.
- Flag content you know to be false. Many social media platforms give users the option to flag posts for misinformation.
- Don’t share until you’re sure. Be part of the solution by avoiding sharing tweets, news, etc., until you have verified the authenticity of the information.