I have deep-seated beliefs about what is right and what is wrong. I think many of us do and if my social feed isn’t telling me lies, I’m among a minority in my opinions. Your feed probably also makes you feel like you are not among a minority, either. You see, we tend to surround ourselves with those who have similar opinions to our own. However inclusive this may feel, it is in fact, part of the problem.
I have often taken part in the activity of “doom scrolling.” If you’re anything like me, there have been times that you have watched your feed fill up, sometimes evoking feelings of elation, and other times, feelings of deep dread. Now, while I don’t often engage in social media conversations, I see the toll it takes on those who choose to partake and how an extremely segregating effect is often the result.
Recent political choices have been made in the United States and, regardless of your opinion on the matter, it has created a polarizing effect that is the perfect setup for the propagation of misinformation. But misinformation, propaganda and polarization is not a new phenomenon, and it certainly isn’t limited to our political affiliations. You can find division of beliefs nearly everywhere that people harbor strong opinions.
I’ve always felt that writers are faced with the challenge of creating content that appeals, but also that speaks truth and seeks to unite, rather than divide. While every writer must decide their own approach, I’m holding onto the hope that writers will use their powers for good instead of evil.
So how can we as creators seek to educate and entertain but not divide? In a time when content is being insistently flung in your face, we must battle the false narrative and find the truth that lies beneath.
What is the segregation model?
Before we can identify how to battle the barrage of misinformation, we need to understand what we’re dealing with on a deeper level. The segregation model stems back to the 1960s when economist Thomas Schelling noted that individuals gave preferential treatment to neighbors like themselves, which led to racial segregation and the dissolution of mixed-race neighborhoods. While many shortcomings have been identified in Schelling’s work, the underlying idea helps us understand how modern misinformation is propagated.
Today, we refer to network segregation as a means of propagating misinformation. Essentially, this involves the separation of online platforms by the prevalence of certain ideological beliefs, thereby creating echo chambers. Because these groups are validating beliefs by others with the same ideas, members are internalizing these narratives as truth. This idea is based on a study published in early 2023.
Think about this in terms of social algorithms and shared content from friends. If you unfriend those who don’t think like you and are consistently consuming content that skews to a certain belief system, you begin to believe that content to be truth. Thus, creating a separation of people by belief system.
Our search algorithms are also similarly reinforcing misinformation, prioritizing engagement and viral content over validity. If content provokes strong reactions, whether in a positive or negative way, it creeps to the top of our feeds, creating false reinforcements of extreme viewpoints.
The role of segregation in propagating false narratives
The most recent US presidential election has drawn attention to the idea of the false narrative where false claims and misinformation are bandied about as truth. The problem becomes a compounded issue based on a faulty foundation. Your beliefs can be compared to the house you live in. Follow me here.
Your house’s foundation…
I have seen coverage of several plane crashes in the news.
Then we build the walls on your house’s foundation…
Plane crashes are likely to happen.
Adding the ceiling…
I have a fear of flying because I am likely to be in a plane crash.
The reality…
You are far more likely to get into a car crash than you are to be in a plane crash. However, because you can think of several plane crash examples, you are more likely to think it is a common occurrence, when, in fact, it is not.
This cognitive bias is called the availability heuristic. You base your opinions on the available memories you have rather than actual facts.
Another example of this at play includes the anchoring bias.
Your anchor bias’ foundation…
A used car cost $15,000.
Then we build the walls of your anchor bias…
You negotiated a price of $13,500.
Adding the ceiling…
You got a good deal because you paid less than the asking price.
The reality…
There is no evidence to suggest that you did actually get a good deal. The car itself may only be worth $10,000, but you perceive you got a good deal because you paid less than the asking price.
This phenomenon is known as the anchoring bias which occurs when a first impression creates an opinion about everything that happens after. In this case, the asking price is the anchor upon which you base your subsequent assessment.
Cognitive bias is common and can be what leads us down the path to spreading misinformation–things that we believe to be true but aren’t.
What happens now?
By segregating our viewpoints so severely, we create echo chambers where our beliefs are continually reinforced back to us by similarly thinking people and it becomes difficult to believe that any other viewpoint has merit. The effect is highly polarizing and diminishes moderate viewpoints while facilitating the spread of false narratives.
Today, we see this played out in social circles, physical geographies and digital platforms. We surround ourselves with those who think like us, take part in algorithm-driven content bubbles, and continue to live in a world of confirmation bias.
Strategies to counteract misinformation within a segregated landscape
Now, the problem that we face as content creators is how to deal with this problem without creating an even more segregated landscape. We don’t like what we see so we withdraw from it and what we write tends to do the same thing. While that might help us find peace of mind, it does little to combat the ever-widening gap between segregated groups and the spread of misinformation.
Encourage critical thinking and media literacy
The World Economic Forum reports that 1,400 security experts consider misinformation to be the biggest global risk in the next two years. To fight that, we as content creators need to be diligent in how we discuss topics and avoid careless assumptions and stereotypes. One NPR article discusses a study which revealed that humanizing those we disagree with can encourage more critical thinking and causes us to be less willing to believe false narratives, making us question our previously held assumptions. Make sure to bolster your content with reputable sources and encourage readers to see why people hold alternate viewpoints.
The FIRE strategy can be helpful to develop critical thinking skills.
- F: Focus on a piece of content and respond in writing for three minutes.
- I: Identify a phrase or a single part of the content and respond in writing for two minutes.
- R: Reframe your response around a single part of the content.
- E: Exchange ideas with someone else to identify alternate points of view.
Be diligent in fact checking
Content creators should assume that our audience will accept it as the truth. Thus, it becomes our responsibility to thoroughly fact-check our work. It’s especially important to get it right on social media given the immediacy factor. Unfortunately, Unesco found that most content creators aren’t checking facts and many want to learn how to do so. Most importantly, fact-checking is vital for combatting misinformation, as reported by the NIH. You can find resources for fact checking on the University of Tampa’s website.
Consider using the SIFT strategy to help you evaluate facts.
- S: Stop
- I: Investigate the source
- F: Find better coverage
- T: Trace claims, quotes, and media to the original context
Offer diverse perspectives in your content
Diversity is a fact. We live in a world of diverse populations and opinions, but because we often produce content that we feel passionate about, it can be difficult to ensure we include diverse perspectives. However, including diverse perspectives can be a critical component of combatting misinformation. “Diversity is vital to combating fake news. It is vital to a functioning media,” writes Marcus Ryder on LinkedIn.
Let’s build a more resilient information ecosystem
I feel compelled here to remind readers that combatting the propagation of the false narrative is a collective responsibility. The onus is on us as writers, readers, content producers and humans. We all must foster a healthy dose of speculation, combined with digital literacy, to help us separate the fake from the facts. It simply cannot be done in a vacuum.
I also feel that no discussion of misinformation could be complete without addressing the treacherous troll. AP News cites cyborgs, trolls and bots as key contributors in the spread of misinformation. Trolls will often quote non-experts or spout unverified statistics in response to valid content in the hopes of distracting from the conversational thread, thereby continuing to propagate a false narrative. These attention seekers often try to elicit emotional responses as a way to invalidate information. If there is one truth I have learned, it is this—one never benefits from feeding a troll.
Further reading
- Here are some strategies for dealing with trolls should they wage battle on you.
- Discover why internet trolls do what they do.
- Learn from these seven tips for dealing with trolls.
- Tips from MIT professor Adam Berinsky can help battle misinformation.
NPR talks about how to discuss misinformation with family and friends.
About the author,
Ashley Watters
