![]() Make sure any information you are consuming about an election is current. If you're unsure, see if you can find a similar story from a source you trust. Is the information published by a person or organisation with a reputation for accurate reporting? Or is it difficult to find what the source is at all? Information that seeks to mislead people is often from a website or news source that you've never heard of. This information is available in an Easy English guide (PDF) at the bottom of this page. You might come across both types during the election period. Misinformation is when information is spread that is believed to be true by those who are sharing it, but which is actually incorrect.ĭisinformation is when information is designed to deliberately mislead and influence public opinion or obscure the truth for malicious or deceptive purposes. ![]() Is it coming from a real person and not a 'bot'?.It's important to think carefully about all electoral information you see this election.Īsk yourself these questions to help sort fact from fiction: Sort fact from fiction this election and know that you'll be casting an informed vote.įalse or inaccurate information can easily spread online, sometimes unintentionally. And remember, you can report anything you think is misinformation to all the social media platforms now. If after all of this you're still unsure about the information, check out our website – a source of election information you can absolutely trust.ĭon't contribute to the spread of nasty fiction or incompetent research. If it's a political ad, has it been authorised? This means that the person or group behind the ad has clearly stated their contact details, rather than hiding behind an anonymous account. They might also use micro-targeting to show you ads based on your location, age or political interests. Does it have a lot of bots following it? That might indicate that the source can't be trusted.Īnother thing to ask could be, is this an opinion piece? Is it balanced? You should also ask yourself why it's been posted and what the author might gain by putting forward only one side of the story.ĭoes a political ad make you excited or furious? Inflammatory or sensational posts get more engagement on social media so advertisers are more likely to use extreme language to reach more people. Is it from a source you know and trust? If it isn't, do some online digging and check out the person or organisation behind the post.Īfter you've done that, have a look at the number of real followers the account has. Here are some steps you can take to make sure the information that is informing your vote is correct.įirst, always look for a source on any news you see. Just remember that on social media, anyone can share their views, and that includes people or groups trying to spread false information or who just get it wrong. It can help you find out what candidates and parties stand for, but you need to know how to sort fact from fiction because you can't trust everything you see on your feed. Social media is a popular way to talk about the election and see different sides of a debate. Elections can generate lots of differing views and opinions, and your social media feeds might be filled with posts and ads about the election.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |