Difference between revisions of "Misinformation in Digital Media"

Revision as of 21:44, 10 February 2023

News containing misinformation displayed on phone.^[1]

Misinformation in digital media is a subset of misinformation, which is false or misleading information. Instances of misinformation have been recorded throughout history, dating back as far as written records exist. The advancement of technology in modern times resulted in digital media becoming the primary source of information for most people. At the same time, it created an avenue for misinformation to spread quickly and to more people. Digital media comes in a variety of different forms, each of which is susceptible to producing misinformation in unique ways. Misinformation has the ability to affect all aspects of life, with heavy influence in societal state, politics, health, and industry. The resulting decline of the overall accuracy of information results in negative consequences. Countering misinformation appears as a complicated topic since the media platforms must establish a balance between upholding free speech and preventing misinformation. Users and communities, on the other hand, have much greater power when it comes to making conscious choices regarding the information they consume. The development of technology targeting misinformation also contributes to the process. In recent years, the topic of misinformation has become a source of debates due to the complicated relationship between its influence and regulation.

History

Pre-Internet Era

Internet Age

Early examples of misinformation date back to 15th century Europe, where political rivals attempted to smear each other's reputation through various writings^[2]. The first recorded instance of large-scale misinformation was the Great Moon Hoax, a series of six articles describing life on the Moon that The Sun published in 1835^[3]. The advancement of technology, specifically the invention of the Internet, significantly changed the manner in which misinformation spreads. The broad influence of digital publications causes potential misinformation to spread rapidly. During the 2016 United States presidential election, content from websites deemed untrustworthy reached a significant percentage of Americans even though misinformation only made up only a small percentage overall news media. What concerned experts was the exponential influence of misinformation, which will become increasingly problematic as misinformation in general constantly increases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation spread about the virus and the preventative measures contributed to the difficulty in containing rising cases^[4]. While misinformation can be intentional or unintentional, a general lack of literacy in identifying it causes people to become susceptible to it. Studies have shown that people are becoming more proficient at discerning misinformation. Polls taken in recent years reported that a historically low percentage of Americans trust the mass media fully accurately and completely, a positive sign for the state of online literacy.

Sources of Misinformation

News Media

Social Media

Podcasts

Advertisement

In the past, the news media industry offered consumers a limited amount of news offerings that were consistent in nature. In contrast, consumers today have access to an abundance of news offerings targeting different groups of people. As a result, consumers often choose news sources that conform with their inherent biases^[5]. This trend dramatically increases the likelihood that consumers receive misinformed information. Instead of using traditional online news sources, a high percentage of Americans began using social media as their main news source in recent years^[6]. Since social media has less requirements for posts than traditional news sources, it is thus also more likely to for people to both spread and receive misinformation on the plethora of platforms. Companies such as Google and Yahoo developed algorithms to personalize consumers' news feeds based on their interest and beliefs, resulting in two people concurrently searching for the same thing receiving unique, customized results^[7]. Such algorithms in news functions build upon the notion of consumers actively selecting news sources matching their biases by simplifying the process for them, thus rendering consumers more susceptible to specific types misinformation that appeal to them. Thus, the competition for customers by news media companies inadvertently created an environment in which misinformation can thrive without much resistance.

Ethical Concerns

Social Implications

Political Implications

Health Implications

One of the major health concerns of digital misinformation is that it can prevent people from seeking necessary medical attention. For instance, misinformation about certain treatments for illnesses may cause someone to refuse or delay proper medical care; consequently, this leads to increased risk of progression and serious complications. Another concern arises from the possibility that misinformation can encourage people to adopt harmful practices. For example, misinformation about the benefits of a certain diet or supplement could result in someone adopting even if it is actually harmful to their health. Similarly, if someone believes false information about the safety of certain activities or substances, they may expose themselves to unnecessary risks. Misinformation can also lead to the spread of harmful beliefs and practices within communities. For example, if false information about the causes of a particular illness spreads within a community, it may lead to the adoption of harmful beliefs and practices that can harm individuals and families. This can also undermine trust in the healthcare system and make it more difficult for healthcare providers to effectively treat and prevent illnesses. Finally, misinformation can contribute to the spread of infectious diseases by spreading false information about their causes, transmission, and treatment. This can lead to the adoption of harmful practices and behaviors that can increase the risk of infection and the spread of disease.

Due to the serious and widespread health implications of digital misinformation regarding health, It is important for individuals to critically evaluate information they receive and seek out credible sources of information, especially when it comes to their health. By doing so, they can protect their own health and the health of their communities.

Industrial Implications

The effects of misinformation apply to most aspects of life, creating unique challenges for different groups to address. For instance, political misinformation is seen as especially detrimental since it can potentially alter democracy and society in general in a negative manner. Misinformation in safety critical fields such as healthcare results in poor health decisions^[8]. On the other hand, the ethics of suppressing misinformation is also a highly debated topic. In countries such as the United States, the freedom of speech appears as a fundamental right; as such, it also extends to the rights of publishing information to the media. Free speech activists have argued that the removal of information, even if it is inaccurate, violates the basic right^[9]. As a result, finding common ground between free speech and misinformation became a delicate subject both legally and morally. While laws against misinformation only apply to specific categories such as defamation and campaign speeches, companies have also started to implement infrastructure to reduce it within the bounds of free speech.

Countering Misinformation

Limitations

Technological Tools

Community Efforts

Information Literacy

News media companies typically work around the clock to broadcast the latest news stories in order to gain a larger audience share. The volume and speed at which news publishings are created does not support comprehensive fact-checking^[10]. One proposed method of countering misinformation in digital publishing is through validation by the consumers themselves, where they can report content that is false or misleading; the content will then be corrected or removed. Another similar method is to implement a point-based system, where users can upvote credible news sources while downvoting inaccurate ones. An example of this mechanism is Reddit, where members of news-based subreddits such as r/worldnews can upvote or downvote posts. The corresponding points associated with each post was found to be indicative of its completeness and accuracy. Additionally, members can check the posters' post history and karma to determine whether they are credible. While these methods of countering misinformation have the potential to be effective, they can still produce false positives or false negatives based on the biases of the user demographic. Websites such as FactCheck.org have been created to objectively check news for misinformation^[11]. A combination of automated and human moderation of misinformation appeared especially effective as a countermeasure to misinformation. Despite the development of such preventative methods, experts conclude that the most effective way remains as thoroughly educating the society about identifying and avoiding misinformation^[12].

References

1. ↑ Brown, S. (2022, January 5). Study: Digital Literacy doesn't stop the spread of misinformation. MIT Sloan. Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/study-digital-literacy-doesnt-stop-spread-misinformation
2. ↑ Lewandowsky, S., Ecker, U. K. H., Seifert, C. M., Schwarz, N., & Cook, J. (2012). Misinformation and Its Correction: Continued Influence and Successful Debiasing. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 13(3), 106–131. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23484653
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misinformation#Countering_misinformation
4. ↑ Broadbent, J. J. (2019). Vaccine hesitancy: misinformation on social media. BMJ: British Medical Journal, 366, 1. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27177173
5. ↑ Lewandowsky, S., Ecker, U. K. H., Seifert, C. M., Schwarz, N., & Cook, J. (2012). Misinformation and Its Correction: Continued Influence and Successful Debiasing. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 13(3), 106–131. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23484653
6. ↑ Heldt, A. (2019). Let’s Meet Halfway: Sharing New Responsibilities in a Digital Age. Journal of Information Policy, 9, 336–369. https://doi.org/10.5325/jinfopoli.9.2019.0336
7. ↑ ZUCKER, A. (2019). Using critical thinking to counter misinformation. Science Scope, 42(8), 6–9. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26898998
8. ↑ Broadbent, J. J. (2019). Vaccine hesitancy: misinformation on social media. BMJ: British Medical Journal, 366, 1. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27177173
9. ↑ Kornbluh, K., Goodman, E. P., & Weiner, E. (2020). Safeguarding Digital Democracy: Digital Innovation and Democracy Initiative Roadmap. German Marshall Fund of the United States. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep24545
10. ↑ BESSI, A., & QUATTROCIOCCHI, W. (2015). Disintermediation: Digital Wildfires in the Age of Misinformation. AQ: Australian Quarterly, 86(4), 34–40. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24877660
11. ↑ Lewandowsky, S., Ecker, U. K. H., Seifert, C. M., Schwarz, N., & Cook, J. (2012). Misinformation and Its Correcti
12. ↑ Walsh, M. (2015). Misinformation Age: Court weighs the right to sue an Internet data site. ABA Journal, 101(11), 19–20. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24806728