CIVIX Explains: Information Pollution
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0:14 - 0:18The internet gives everyone in society
a voice in the public sphere. -
0:18 - 0:23But when anyone can post anything online,
the result is a lot of information. -
0:24 - 0:27Some of this is trustworthy,
but a lot of it isn’t. -
0:28 - 0:32On social media and search platforms,
all information is made to look the same. -
0:33 - 0:36It can be hard to tell what is
from a credible source, -
0:37 - 0:39such as a professional news organization,
-
0:40 - 0:42and what is less reliable.
-
0:43 - 0:47Social media networks make it easy
for wrong information to spread, -
0:47 - 0:49which means we hear a lot
-
0:49 - 0:50about this ‘fake news’ problem.
-
0:51 - 0:53But what is fake news, exactly?
-
0:55 - 0:58The phrase gets used to describe
all kinds of wrong information -
0:58 - 1:00—from articles intended to deceive people,
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1:00 - 1:03to misleading memes
and clickbait headlines, -
1:04 - 1:06to conspiracy theories.
-
1:07 - 1:10Some people call news reports they don’t
like ‘fake news’, -
1:10 - 1:12as a way to discredit reliable sources,
-
1:13 - 1:15which only adds to the confusion.
-
1:16 - 1:19To understand the problem of
wrong information online, -
1:19 - 1:21it helps to define and categorize it.
-
1:22 - 1:25False information can be sorted
into two categories: -
1:26 - 1:29misinformation and disinformation.
-
1:30 - 1:34Misinformation is wrong, but the person
sharing it believes it to be true. -
1:35 - 1:38While misinformation can be damaging, its
intent is not to cause harm. -
1:40 - 1:43Examples could include a factual error
caused by misunderstanding, -
1:46 - 1:47a manipulated image,
-
1:49 - 1:52or a real photo that appears
with a made up story. -
1:53 - 1:55Disinformation, on the other hand,
-
1:55 - 1:59is deliberately false information
created and shared to cause harm. -
1:59 - 2:02It has the goal of confusing people
about what is true, -
2:02 - 2:05and influencing how they think and act.
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2:06 - 2:10For example, a false rumour circulated
about a political candidate -
2:10 - 2:12that causes others
to doubt their trustworthiness. -
2:13 - 2:15Together, all this mis- and disinformation
-
2:15 - 2:18can be thought of as
“information pollution.” -
2:19 - 2:23Unreliable stories or posts
can be interesting or funny, -
2:23 - 2:25or spark an emotion that makes us
want to believe -
2:25 - 2:27and share them with friends.
-
2:28 - 2:32People contribute to information pollution
by sharing false and misleading content. -
2:34 - 2:39Before believing or sharing something,
stop and ask “who made this, and why?” -
2:40 - 2:43This is the first step
in combating information pollution -
2:43 - 2:46to become a more informed citizen.
- Title:
- CIVIX Explains: Information Pollution
- Description:
-
When anyone can post anything online, the result is a lot of information. To understand the problem of false and misleading information, it helps to define and categorize it.
- Video Language:
- English
- Team:
- Amplifying Voices
- Project:
- CIVIX
- Duration:
- 03:01
Fran Ontanaya edited English subtitles for CIVIX Explains: Information Pollution | ||
Thais Barros edited English subtitles for CIVIX Explains: Information Pollution | ||
Carol Wang edited English subtitles for CIVIX Explains: Information Pollution | ||
Carol Wang edited English subtitles for CIVIX Explains: Information Pollution | ||
Claudia Contreras edited English subtitles for CIVIX Explains: Information Pollution | ||
Viviane M edited English subtitles for CIVIX Explains: Information Pollution |