If you attended the Outfluence LLC webinar in early April 2020 you heard us speaking about how to manage misinformation and disinformation campaigns that are rampant on social media.
There are actions we can take to determine the validity of information we read and hear on social media. First of all, look at the name of the author and the name of the publication printing the information.
· Who are they affiliated with?
· Are they linked to an organization?
· Is the author known to support certain causes?
· Is the author actually connected to the publication or is the entirety of the information and the publication contrived?
· Do a little bit of homework to see if you can qualify the author and the publisher.
· If what you are reading or hearing is coming from an individual, who is he or she?
· Is what you are reading or hearing balanced or does the author of the information seem to be leaning one way or the other?
· What is the background of the individual? What else has he or she published?
· Are people commenting on the information?
· If so, what are they saying?
· What are you seeing or hearing from other social media outlets that you know and trust?
· Are they publishing similar information?
In a reputable publication called The Hill they wrote, “So in a short period of time the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) went from letting Russian disinformation claiming the U.S. was the source of the virus proliferate in Chinese social media, to raising questions on state media about the origin’s source, to promoting disinformation that the U.S. was the source of the virus.”
These are very sophisticated disinformation campaigns that flow easily into American social media and are then distributed widely by unknowing citizens. In the midst of a political campaign when each side is looking for “dirt” on its opponent some campaigners easily pick up on the disinformation and use it to bolster their candidate’s chances to win. The campaigners may do a cursory quality check of the information before publishing it, which I think is highly unlikely, in which case it falls to the voter, the citizen, to determine the validity of the social media information.
The Internet is very much like the Wild West was back in the early days of our country. It’s uncontrollable, ungoverned and filled with people out to take advantage of it, to your detriment. There should be a huge sign on website: USE WITH CAUTION.
Outfluence, LLC is a coaching and training organization focused on communication, personal growth, performance and citizenship for high school students and adults. Outfluence is reclaiming what it means to be human, to be connected to others in meaningful ways, and to contribute meaningfully to our world and our future. We do this by teaching thoughtful intentionality, relational awareness, effective communication, and personal development through interactive, dynamic training for youth and adults, families and organizations. Contact us at info@outfluence.com to schedule an Outfluence speaker to address your business or organization.