Virus outbreak means (mis)information overload: How to cope (AP)

https://hosted.ap.org/article/dedd5a5f5367b1da634a1e84dbb369ed/virus-outbreak-means-misinformation-overload-how-cope

Mar. 22, 2020 8:32 AM EDT
Virus outbreak means (mis)information overload: How to cope
By BARBARA ORTUTAY and DAVID KLEPPER

Here are some things you can do to separate fact from misinformation:

LOOK FOR THE SOURCE

We are more likely to believe things our friends tell us — that's human nature. It's why rumors spread and why misinformation travels on social media. It's also why the chain text message warning of a nationwide lockdown worked so well: Everyone heard it from a friend of a friend who “knows someone.” Be wary of important-sounding information that is not coming from a clear, authoritative source, such as local government agencies and health departments, or national and international public health institutes such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. Posts may also claim that a politician said or did something. You can check that information through legitimate news outlets or the candidates' own verified social media accounts.

ACT LIKE A JOURNALIST

Be wary of information from groups or news organizations you don’t know — in some cases the groups behind misinformation create websites and social media accounts that look like a legitimate news organization. Remember that there’s a difference between news stories and opinion pieces. News stories should include the source of the information. If there’s no source or attribution, be suspicious.

In addition to seeking authoritative sources, journalists also seek to confirm information from multiple sources. Even if a news outlet is at first alone in reporting a big development, others will soon follow. If this doesn't happen, it could be a red flag.

DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SEE

Bad actors and trolls looking to exploit people's fears around coronavirus are using a variety of techniques to sow confusion. False news articles are just a small part of this.

Photos and videos can be edited and altered, and real images can be presented out of context. Again, it helps to look for the source. Google's reverse image search can help find the origins of a photo. For videos, take a look at who uploaded it — was it a random user? A news outlet? The CDC?

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