There's a lot of advice out there about how much to read, post, and share online. Some people are overdosing on nonstop news cycles. And others are avoiding the news completely for weeks at a time.
Unfortunately, there's too much going on in the world to not pay attention at all. Finland teaches its citizens how to fact-check online news as early as elementary school. This encourages its electorate to think critically before reacting emotionally to headlines.
There's no perfect prescription to deal with the 24/7 news machine, but there are a few good guidelines.
Don't get news from Facebook.
Just don't do it. Due to Facebook's less than inspiring efforts to control quality or facts, the news shared on Facebook is almost always some form of weaponized psychology on parade.
But if you or someone you love does get news from Facebook, there are a few simple ways to verify the information.
Check the source, and the source's source.
Here are a few simple ways to check an online source:
- Look for the lock icon to indicate the hosting domain is secure. This means information on the website is passed via a secure connection, which benefits you.
- Look at the URL of the website the article is hosted on. Visit the root URL [highlighted below] to check out the homepage of this source.
- Look into the authors of the article. They should link out to more information from a verified source. If not, give them a Google. Perform the same checks on any information you find about the authors.
Learn from experts.
There are also some good email digests for news who can fact-check for you. So you can stay informed without getting overwhelmed. I personally like the Sup digest from Betches Sup.
No matter where your news comes from, it's still always a good idea to verify any news story you read.
When fake news hits close to home.
If you're seeing fake news shared within your social circle, getting angry won't help. The person sharing this news probably saw multiple sources citing the faulty information and genuinely believes it's true.
Fear and anger are addictive. And they’re the best tools for spreading viral misinformation. So first, take a moment to consider why this story might be gaslighting your friend or family member. Is it offering a distraction or explanation for a problem they personally care about? Odds are that this person isn't intentionally spreading bad information for no reason.
Don't drop the mic.
Shame is not a teaching tool. In fact, it will consistently convince the person you're shaming that you are wrong. How else can someone react to a personal attack based on a difference in understanding?
It's also not realistic that you can change someone's mind immediately. Focus on creating space for them to see a different point of view without feeling defensive or ashamed.
- Present facts concisely, and name your source.
- Don't try to win.
- Be kind.
A "news" feed is not an information feed.
There's a reason your feed is overrun with clickbait news stories. News and media outlets are prioritized in your Facebook feed ahead of posts from your family, friends, and businesses that you follow. This allows Facebook to say it prioritizes verified news, alongside less official and reliable sources. And we know how much Mr. Zuckerberg is committed to truth and justice 🙃
Also, whoever breaks a news story first wins the Facebook algorithms. This means that every news source, even verified ones, is motivated to publish their story as fast as possible.
It will help all of us as readers to recognize that Facebook is designed to win at clicks and views. Not at information.