How to navigate misinformation on social media

DULUTH, Minn. — In today’s social media landscape, information can be published instantly by virtually anyone, increasing the potential for misinformation to spread.

“The flood of information is so much,” said Mags David, a social sciences librarian at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

That information — whether verified or not — has an impact.

“There’s a good in having anyone be able to have a voice,” David said. “There’s also the danger that people with bad intentions also have a voice.”

David says the challenge isn’t just misinformation itself, but how people consume it.

“Whenever you are picking up a piece of information, you want to evaluate it and think about where it comes from, what evidence it’s showing you, and what the person is trying to do with it,” she said.

Another major factor, David says, is confirmation bias.

“Instead of going in thinking, ‘I want to prove this,’ go in thinking, ‘What can I learn?’” she said.

David says local news is rooted in experience, context, and verification — something viral content doesn’t always provide.

“Reporters often follow certain kinds of stories over a number of years,” she said. “You develop expertise that helps you understand what’s actually happening and ask the questions that lead to evidence.”

She says not all online storytelling meets that standard.

“I’ve seen independent journalists tell stories that just come from somebody’s head,” David said.

Asked whether virality is outweighing verification, David said the answer is often yes.

“Partly because of the overload,” she said. “People don’t have time. It’s like fast-food information.”

When it comes to navigating today’s headlines, David says it comes down to one thing: learning how to evaluate what you’re seeing.

“It’s important that students, and everyday people, learn how to look at the information they’re consuming,” she said.

David says going back to the basics — who, what, where, when, and why — is key when consuming online content.

She also encourages people to slow down and think before sharing stories on their social media accounts.