Media Vocabulary
The Vocabulary of Disinformation & Misinformation
In a world inundated with information and misinformation, media literacy is a shield against chaos. This article is a step towards creating a solid foundation for navigating the information landscape.
By Rebecca Johns
We all have access to an endless stream of media through our devices. Apps are designed to promote longer browsing periods, and we often fall into the trap of mindless scrolling. Media literacy plays a pivotal role in helping us understand and critically evaluate the information we encounter.
First, we must understand what we must be wary of. ‘Misinformation’ simply refers to incorrect or misleading information, while ‘disinformation’ is information that is false and deliberately created to cause harm. Because it can be hard to identify what the intent was of the person who created a piece of information, it’s generally more accurate to use the word misinformation as an umbrella term.
The most powerful pieces of misinformation often mix true and false elements, which often confuses the reader into believing it is real. Or, you may come across propaganda that is crafted with the intent to feed your confirmation bias and persuade you of a particular idea or point of view - distinct from the deliberate falsehoods of disinformation, but just as harmful.
Let us delve deeper and explore 10 jargons related to media literacy concerning the issues of information and misinformation.
Echo Chamber
An echo chamber is a social or digital environment where individuals are primarily exposed to information and opinions that reinforce their existing beliefs. Take the example of online communities on social media. What’s the first one that comes to your mind? It most probably consists of like-minded people coming together to conduct discussions and hear arguments. However, the very thing that brings these group members together results in the conversation going in one specific direction with no counter argument addressed. This isolation from diverse perspectives can lead to further polarization and a lack of understanding of opposing viewpoints.
Media literacy encourages individuals to step out of their echo chambers to gain a broader perspective on the issues at hand. This can be done by researching opposing points of view, and looking beyond the presentation of the idea to the idea itself, before forming your own opinion.
Confirmation Bias
Confirmation bias is a psychological phenomenon in which individuals tend to interpret information in a way that confirms their pre-existing beliefs. In the context of media literacy, this bias can be problematic, as it can lead people to selectively consume and accept information that aligns with their existing views while rejecting or dismissing information that contradicts them. Recognizing and overcoming confirmation bias is crucial to foster a more balanced and informed perspective.
Filter Bubble
The filter bubble is a concept coined by internet activist Eli Pariser. It refers to the personalized information ecosystems created by search engines and social media platforms. Algorithms tailor content to individual users based on their past behavior, preferences, and interactions, thus creating a "bubble" around them. While this can enhance user experience, it also traps users in a limited sphere of information, making it harder to encounter diverse viewpoints and information outside their comfort zone.
Clickbait
Clickbait refers to sensational or misleading headlines, images, or links that are designed to grab the user's attention and encourage them to click through to a web page. These tactics often distort or exaggerate the actual content, resulting in disappointment when users discover the content does not live up to the enticing description. Recognizing clickbait and avoiding it is an essential media literacy skill to prevent falling victim to false or shallow information.
Deepfake
Deepfakes are a modern technological advancement that uses artificial intelligence to create highly convincing, but entirely fabricated, audio or video content. This means that videos can be created of people saying things that they never actually said, to a high degree of realism. These manipulated media pieces can make it challenging to distinguish between real and fake information. Media literacy education must include awareness of deepfakes to help people critically evaluate the authenticity of multimedia content.
Source Credibility
Source credibility is the assessment of the trustworthiness, expertise, and reliability of the entities or individuals providing information. Evaluating source credibility is pivotal to media literacy. A credible source is more likely to report accurate and unbiased information. We as media consumers must develop the ability to critically assess the credibility of sources to make informed judgments about the information we encounter. For example, you could look up the website where the piece that you want to verify appears, to know their expertise or potential ulterior motives for publishing the content. You can use the nonprofit site www.whois.icann.org to see who a website is registered to, and when it was registered.
Fact-Checking
No piece of information is gospel until it has been verified from multiple reliable sources. We as media consumers benefit from fact-checking skills as a means to assess the reliability of information we encounter. This helps us avoid the spread of misinformation. Fact-checking verifies the accuracy and truthfulness of information by using rigorous methods to assess the credibility of claims, statements, or data presented in the media. Wikipedia is a good starting point for cross-checking. The platform’s collaborative, self-regulating information system has users verify facts, minimize bias, and collectively act as a check on one another. If you can, trace the origin of the claim you are trying to verify until you find its primary source.
Primary Source
A primary source is an original document or piece of information that provides first hand evidence or direct knowledge of an event, topic, or issue. In media literacy, the ability to identify primary sources is essential. Primary sources are generally more reliable than secondary sources, which might contain interpretations or biases. Being able to distinguish between primary and secondary sources is crucial in evaluating the credibility of information.
Sensationalism
Sensationalism refers to the practice of emphasizing sensational and dramatic aspects of a story rather than its factual content. Media outlets may employ sensationalism to attract viewers, readers, or clicks. This can distort the truth and impact the audience's understanding of an issue. Yellow journalism was a term coined to describe the phenomenon of newspaper reporting that emphasized sensationalism over facts. During its heyday in the late 19th century it was one of many factors that helped push the United States and Spain into war in Cuba and the Philippines - illustrating the extent to which it can impact our world. Media literacy involves recognizing sensationalism and learning to discern between genuine news and sensationalist reporting.
Information Ecosystem
The information ecosystem is the complex network of sources, platforms, and channels through which information is disseminated. It includes traditional media, social media, online forums, blogs, and more. Understanding your information ecosystem is critical for media literacy, as it helps you comprehend how information spreads, is influenced, and can be manipulated within this network. A healthy information ecosystem supports diverse sources of information and ensures information integrity.
In a world inundated with information and misinformation, media literacy is a shield against chaos. This article is a step towards creating a solid foundation for navigating the information landscape.