Difference between revisions of "Misinformation in Digital Media"
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Early examples of misinformation date back to the Italian Renaissance, where political rivals attempt to smear each other's reputation through writings. The first recorded instance of large-scale disinformation was the Great Moon Hoax, a series of six articles describing life on the Moon that ''The Sun'' published in 1835. 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 "untrustworthy" websites reached up to 40% of Americans; what rendered this statistic especially concerning for experts was that misinformation only made up 6% of overall news media. During the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation spread about the virus and the preventative measures contributed to the difficulty in containing rising cases. While misinformation can be intentional or intentional, 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. A Gallup poll released in 2016 reported that only 32% of Americans trust the mass media "to report the news fully, accurately and fairly". | Early examples of misinformation date back to the Italian Renaissance, where political rivals attempt to smear each other's reputation through writings. The first recorded instance of large-scale disinformation was the Great Moon Hoax, a series of six articles describing life on the Moon that ''The Sun'' published in 1835. 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 "untrustworthy" websites reached up to 40% of Americans; what rendered this statistic especially concerning for experts was that misinformation only made up 6% of overall news media. During the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation spread about the virus and the preventative measures contributed to the difficulty in containing rising cases. While misinformation can be intentional or intentional, 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. A Gallup poll released in 2016 reported that only 32% of Americans trust the mass media "to report the news fully, accurately and fairly". | ||
| − | == Cognitive Biases == | + | == Cognitive Biases == |
| + | In the past, the news media industry offered consumers a limited, but consistent choice of news offerings. In contrast, consumers today have access to | ||
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== Ethical Concerns == | == Ethical Concerns == | ||
== Countering Misinformation == | == Countering Misinformation == | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 05:20, 26 January 2023
Misinformation in digital publishing is a subset of misinformation, which is false or misleading information; unlike disinformation, it is not intentionally deceptive. 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 publishing 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. People generally gravitate towards media that aligns with their inherent biases, which renders them more prone to the misinformation coming from those sources. Social media, which possesses lax requirements for posts, played a critical role in the spread of such misinformation. Misinformation has the ability to affect all aspects of life, from health to politics. The resulting decline of the overall accuracy of information produces negative implications. Countering misinformation appears as a complicated topic since the media platforms must find common ground between upholding free speech and preventing misinformation. Users, on the other hand, have much greater power when it comes to making conscious choices regarding the information they consume. In recent years, the topic of misinformation has become a source of debates due to the complicated relationship between its influence and regulation.
History
Early examples of misinformation date back to the Italian Renaissance, where political rivals attempt to smear each other's reputation through writings. The first recorded instance of large-scale disinformation was the Great Moon Hoax, a series of six articles describing life on the Moon that The Sun published in 1835. 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 "untrustworthy" websites reached up to 40% of Americans; what rendered this statistic especially concerning for experts was that misinformation only made up 6% of overall news media. During the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation spread about the virus and the preventative measures contributed to the difficulty in containing rising cases. While misinformation can be intentional or intentional, 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. A Gallup poll released in 2016 reported that only 32% of Americans trust the mass media "to report the news fully, accurately and fairly".
Cognitive Biases
In the past, the news media industry offered consumers a limited, but consistent choice of news offerings. In contrast, consumers today have access to
