MISINFORMATION

MISINFORMATION is the
dissemination of inaccurate or
erroneous information, even when it
wasn't intended to be harmful to you.
You give false information credibility
by circulating it and sharing it.
Media And
Information Literacy

Tools To
Collect
Information
Google is an internet search engine. It uses a
proprietary algorithm that’s designed to retrieve
and order search results to provide the most
relevant and dependable sources of data
possible.
Twitter serves various industries by facilitating
direct communication among social groups and
organizations, particularly through hashtags, which
allow users to view tweets related to a specific
topic.
TikTok is a mobile-based video-sharing app allowing
users to create and share short-form videos on
various topics, allowing them to use filters, stickers,
voiceovers, sound effects, and background music.
Facebook is a social networking platform that
allows users to post comments, share photos,
share news links, chat live, and watch short-
form videos.
A newspaper is a periodical publication that
provides current events and news from various
fields like politics, business, sports, art, and
science.
How do I know what
information is real?
Always check the source or “author” of the content
you are viewing. A reliable and reputable source:
provides in-depth, evidence-based
information that is authoritative
is unbiased and offers a balanced approach
is well known and has built a reputation of
being trustworthy over time
Examples of reliable sources are:
established media - printed/digital news,
magazines, or television
peer-reviewed articles or “scholarly journals”
(articles written by an expert and reviewed by
a group of experts)
government or publicly funded organization
reports, fact-sheets or multi-media
academic research papers and databases
books and libraries.
Trustworthy organizations pay teams of dedicated
staff to research, investigate and validate facts to
ensure the information being published is
legitimate and true.
AVOID SPREADING
MISINFORMATION
Authority - who is the author and where did the item originate? Check
on the individual, company or institution, to see where their biases
(personal inclinations/favouritisms) are. Is the author’s name listed?
What are their credentials that make them an expert in the topic?
Accuracy - information that is accurate and free from errors is
considered more reliable. One or two typos are ok but information
that is presented in a sloppy manner with too many spelling or
grammatical mistakes comes across as unprofessional. Are there
links to other resources to back up the claims one source is making?
For statistical references and data check where they come from.
Numbers can be easily changed and manipulated to show personal
opinions. Fact and opinion are different.
Objectivity - check to see if the information is presented with the
least amount of prejudice or personal bias. Is it an opinion or is it
trying to sell you something?
Timeliness - when was the information first published? Is the content
you are looking at up-to-date, or the website updated regularly, or is
it something that is old made to look like new information?