Media Explained: Misinformation

Join us as we explore one of today’s biggest media and information challenges: misinformation. 

Across five episodes, and with the guidance of media literacy academic Dr Aimee Hourigan, we will learn about the important role of media in society, reflect on our unconscious biases, debate the value of artificial intelligence and build our skill in identifying and responding to misinformation.

Table of contents:

1. 1.Media environments
2. 2.Defining misinformation
3. 3.The bias dilemma
4. 4.Generative AI
5. 5.ESCAPE misinformation

1. Media environments

Information and media are essential for our everyday lives. But with so much content out there, especially online, how do we know what to trust? Dr Aimee explains how having a critical mindset can help us make informed decisions about the content we engage with. 

Things to think about

Before viewing

1. 1.As a class, list all the different types of media you have had access to in the past 12 months.

While viewing

1. 1.With so much content to choose from, what challenges arise for us as media consumers?
2. 2.What are some ways to fight these challenges?
3. 3.What actions can make you accountable for the information you create online?

After viewing

Break into groups and assign one piece of media to each group (for example, an advertisement, a music video, a news report, a video game, a show from your favourite streaming service and so on). 

In your group, analyse your assigned media using the following questions as a guide, then present your findings to the class for discussion. 

1. 1.Institutions: Who made this media, and why did they make it?
2. 2.Audiences: Who was this media made for, and how are they likely to respond to it?
3. 3.Representations: How are people, places or ideas portrayed in this media, and what are the impacts of this?
4. 4.Technologies: What technology was used to produce, access and circulate this media? Does the technology collect personal data from users?
5. 5.Languages: How does this media use image, sounds and written text to communicate?
6. 6.Relationships: What kind of relationships are being developed through the distribution and use of this media?

2. Defining misinformation

Have you ever come across something online that you thought was false or misleading? Dr Aimee discusses the difference between misinformation and disinformation, how they are created and shared, and the impact they can have on our society. 

Things to think about

Before viewing

1. 1.As a class, discuss what you think is meant by the terms “misinformation” and “disinformation”. What do you think the difference is between the two?
2. 2.Can you think of a time when you have seen misinformation shared online? Who shared it? What do you think were the motivations of the person or people who shared it? 

While viewing

1. 1.What is the difference between the terms “misinformation” and “disinformation” as defined in this video?
2. 2.List three examples of misinformation that might be shared online. 
3. 3.List three examples of disinformation that might be shared online.
4. 4.Why is it sometimes difficult to know if something is misinformation or whether it is disinformation?
5. 5.What are some of the consequences of mis- and dis-information being spread?
6. 6.Why is it a problem if we don’t question our biases first before sharing information?

After viewing

1. 1.Outline, in your own words, why misinformation may be spread online. 
2. 2.Outline, in your own words, why disinformation may be spread online. 

3. The bias dilemma

Our personal experiences have a big impact on how we make sense of media and information. In this video, Dr Aimee explores how our identities, emotions, biases and worldviews influence the way we create, engage with and use media and information in our everyday lives. 

Things to think about

Before viewing

1. 1.What is bias? 

While viewing

1. 1.What is confirmation bias?
2. 2.How do algorithms play into our confirmation bias?
3. 3.What is problematic about “black-and-white” thinking? 

After viewing

1. 1.Can you think of topics that might highlight students’ confirmation bias?
2. 2.Can you think of topics that might highlight your parents’ and teachers’ confirmation bias?
3. 3.In your own words, explain how you might combat confirmation bias in your everyday consumption of media. 

4. Generative AI

Can you really trust anything online these days? Is everything just created by artificial intelligence? Dr Aimee describes how AI introduces new and complex challenges to the way we make, share, receive and use content online. 

Things to think about

Before viewing

1. 1.As a class, discuss the ways you have used generative AI in your daily life.
2. 2.Where do we see the use of artificial intelligence in our everyday lives? 

While viewing

1. 1.What is generative artificial intelligence?
2. 2.What is an example of AI slop? Why is it called this?
3. 3.What does the term “AI hallucination” mean?

After viewing

1. 1.What are the pros and cons of generative AI?

5. ESCAPE misinformation

Feeling overwhelmed by the challenge of misinformation? There is a way forward! In this final episode, Dr Aimee outlines how the ESCAPE strategy can help us check if content is true and can be trusted.

Things to think about

Before viewing

1. 1.What are some things you might do now to stop misinformation being spread?

While viewing

1. 1.What does the acronym ESCAPE stand for?
2. 2.What is lateral reading? How can it help you when evaluating a source?
3. 3.What is one way that you can understand the context of images used online?
4. 4.What elements of information can be analysed to give us clues as to who its intended audience is? 

After viewing

1. 1.For discussion: To what extent is content created by generative AI reliable?