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HALF TRUTHS, WHOLE LIES?

Something seems odd. It feels disparate. Let me walk you through it. My Observation and Evaluation I analysed these numbers and wondered how there is a significant 8% rise over just a year as compared to 3% over three years in usage of social media sites as news sources when 88% (64%+24%) of the population feel fake or fabricated news cause confusion. This was perplexing to me. (Shearer, E. and Gottfried, J. (2018). And Barthel, M., Mitchell, A. and Holcomb, J. (2018). Continue reading →

HALF TRUTHS, WHOLE LIES?

Something seems odd. It feels disparate. Let me walk you through it. My Observation and Evaluation I analysed these numbers and wondered how there is a significant 8% rise over just a year as compared to 3% over three years in usage of social media sites as news sources when 88% (64%+24%) of the population feel fake or fabricated news cause confusion. This was perplexing to me. (Shearer, E. and Gottfried, J. (2018). And Barthel, M., Mitchell, A. and Holcomb, J. (2018). Continue reading →

How is your media literacy?

Media Literacy In a world where we are heavily surrounded by digital technologies, it is important to be cautious of online information. As noted in last week’s topic of digital differences, we touched on the notion that our learning and views can be limited if we do not widen our learning network. One way to achieve this is through improving our media literacy. Continue reading →

How is your media literacy?

Media Literacy In a world where we are heavily surrounded by digital technologies, it is important to be cautious of online information. As noted in last week’s topic of digital differences, we touched on the notion that our learning and views can be limited if we do not widen our learning network. One way to achieve this is through improving our media literacy. Continue reading →

How is your media literacy?

Media Literacy In a world where we are heavily surrounded by digital technologies, it is important to be cautious of online information. As noted in last week’s topic of digital differences, we touched on the notion that our learning and views can be limited if we do not widen our learning network. One way to achieve this is through improving our media literacy. Continue reading →

How is your media literacy?

Media Literacy In a world where we are heavily surrounded by digital technologies, it is important to be cautious of online information. As noted in last week’s topic of digital differences, we touched on the notion that our learning and views can be limited if we do not widen our learning network. One way to achieve this is through improving our media literacy. Continue reading →

Are YOU contributing to fake news?

  Bertrand Russell once said “Do not feel absolutely certain of anything.”. However, this is easier said than done. It seems that on a deep psychological level, we are attracted to clickbait and sensationalist headlines, which leaves us vulnerable to believing false information. Especially when we consider that lies travel faster than truth (Vosoughi et al, 2018). Pictured: Fake news travels faster. Continue reading →

The World Wide Web of Confusion?

The internet is a prominent way in which we understand the world around us- more than 3 billion people are using the internet worldwide. However, our ability to understand information on the internet can be affected by; media literacy, information literacy and data literacy. Continue reading →

The World Wide Web of Confusion?

The internet is a prominent way in which we understand the world around us- more than 3 billion people are using the internet worldwide. However, we need to be able to assess the reliability and authenticity of online information as it is largely affected by; media literacy, information literacy and data literacy. Continue reading →

“Fake News” vs “Real News”

https://www.factcheck.org/2016/11/how-to-spot-fake-news/  Social media is a huge part of our everyday lives it is easy for news to get misinterpreted. News stories can be published within minutes of an event and will be shared over Twitter and Facebook as soon as the story has been leaked. But just because a story has been shared multiple times it doesn’t mean that the information is 100% accurate or reliable. Continue reading →

“Fake News” vs “Real News”

https://www.factcheck.org/2016/11/how-to-spot-fake-news/  Social media is a huge part of our everyday lives it is easy for news to get misinterpreted. News stories can be published within minutes of an event and will be shared over Twitter and Facebook as soon as the story has been leaked. But just because a story has been shared multiple times it doesn’t mean that the information is 100% accurate or reliable. Continue reading →

Are we stuck in a Filter bubble? What’s reliable and authentic these days?

Accessing reliable and authentic information on the web is becoming increasingly difficult due to Filter bubbles… But what is a Filter bubble?? Click on my video below to find out about Filter bubbles! (Created by Boyle on Biteable, 2018). Continue reading →

Who can you trust?

The Web is an endless pool of information and, while it may sound obvious, it’s very easy to get mislead. This comes down to the need to grow our personal learning networks but not knowing where to look, or being satisfied with content that align with our beliefs (Flaxman, Goel and Rao, 2016). The latter is called an echo chamber. We tend to interact with people similar to us and not often see the views of those from different online communities (Future Learn, 2018). Continue reading →

Learning on the Web – who can you trust?

The Web is an endless pool of information and, while it may sound obvious, it’s very easy to get mislead. This comes down to the need to grow our personal learning networks but not knowing where to look, or being satisfied with content that align with our beliefs (Flaxman, Goel and Rao, 2016). The latter is called an echo chamber. We tend to interact with people similar to us and not often see the views of those from different online communities (Future Learn, 2018). Continue reading →

Fake News: Assess your source

The Problem: The great thing about social media is the freedom of anybody to create an account which they can post from. Which is also the huge problem with social media. Despite Fake News not being a new phenomenon, it’s ability to dominate discussion has risen by a vast amount since the introduction of social media (Walton, 2018) . Continue reading →

Fake News: Assess your source

The Problem: The great thing about social media is the freedom of anybody to create an account which they can post from. Which is also the huge problem with social media. Despite Fake News not being a new phenomenon, it’s ability to dominate discussion has risen by a vast amount since the introduction of social media (Walton, 2018) . Continue reading →

The Truth, the whole Truth & nothing but the Truth. Right…

Media Literacy Various academics project that our media literacy level determines how we can access, evaluate and communicate messages using the internet.  Thoman and Jolls (2005: 190) emphasise an understanding of the role of media in society and essential skills of inquiry. Continue reading →

Assessing Reliability and Authenticity on the Web: Mainstream Media

Online news can take many forms, but I want to focus on the reliability of mainstream network media in their broadcasting and online platforms. The ‘decreasing objectivity’ of online platforms have made the web a polarisation machine. (Simpson, 2012) Politically, for instance, the right tend more towards the right; and the left towards the left. Continue reading →

Assessing Reliability and Authenticity on the Web: Mainstream Media

Online news can take many forms, but I want to focus on the reliability of mainstream network media in their broadcasting and online platforms. The ‘decreasing objectivity’ of online platforms have made the web a polarisation machine. (Simpson, 2012) Politically, for instance, the right tend more towards the right; and the left towards the left. Continue reading →

“Falsehood flies, and the Truth comes limping after it”- Jonathan Swift

Reference for the Quote in the Title. An issue that needs addressing: A BuzzFeed News analysis found that in the last 3 months of the most recent US presidential campaign, the top-performing fake election news stories on Facebook generated more engagement than the top stories from major news outlets. During this time, 20 false election stories from hoax sites generated 8,711,000 shares, reactions, and comments on Facebook (BuzzFeed, 2016). Continue reading →