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View this "Fact checking online" video from Swedish fact checker Viralgranskaren and IIS (The Internet Foundation In Sweden) |
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A fact is an objective truth or a piece of information used as evidence to support an argument. Example: Winston Churchill was Prime Minister of Britain |
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An opinion is a belief or conclusion held with confidence, but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof Example: Winston Churchill was the best Prime Minister Britain ever had |
This TED talk by Eli Pariser covers what to consider with regards to filter bubbles.
"Filter bubbles" are created by a website -- or social media feed -- customize what you are delivered based on your previous searches, location, and clicking history."
(Pariser, E. (2011) Beware online "filter bubbles"'. March. Available at: https://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_beware_online_filter_bubbles (Accessed: 10 March 2020).
An example would be that your Facebook or Twitter feed looks at what you like and share and what your friends like and share and tries to present you with only news or articles from that viewpoint.
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In this video, reporters and media professionals define the term “confirmation bias,” and discuss its effect on how people approach and evaluate news and other information. |
Confirmation bias is our subconscious tendency to seek and interpret information and other evidence in ways that affirm our existing beliefs, ideas, expectations, and/or hypotheses. Therefore, confirmation bias is both affected by and feeds our implicit biases. It can strongest around beliefs and ideas that we are strongly attached to or that provoke an emotional response.
Recognise your bubble
Check your own biases
Look for evidence
What else can you find to back a news story up?
Why are people saying what they are?
Look at the background - is it satirical, biased etc?
Triangulate
Get comfortable with disagreement
Look at different viewpoints and news sources
Be Global
Make your own decisions and stop doing what algorithms suggest
Intentionally seek out people from different geographies, backgrounds or viewpoints
Say yes to invitations from people outside your usual social circle
Practise listening and understanding