Online platforms are places we can connect, express, learn and explore.
But we know sometimes they can also turn nasty. And with tech giants rolling back on moderating content and loosening restrictions on what content is permitted, these spaces need to be regulated and moderated.
There’s a lot of hate online, and it’s becoming more hostile. So what can we do about it?
At Belong To, we’re holding social media platforms to account, calling on them to make our social media what we want it to be and calling for politicians to hold them to account through regulation.
While the responsibility ultimately lies with the platforms themselves, we can also mind ourselves by sharing more of the type of content we do want to see - and block the content we don’t.
Through the #ItsOurSocialMedia campaign, we’re sharing practical ways that you can help stop the spread of misinformation and contribute to #FeedingTheGood on social and #BlockingTheBad.
#ITSOURSOCIALMEDIA #FEEDTHEGOOD #BLOCKTHEBAD
Belong To want to create a world where LGBTQ+ young people are equal, safe and valued both online and offline. Explore the site to learn more about how we can make our social media a better place to be.
LET’S HOLD THEM TO ACCOUNT
With social media companies demonstrating they won’t do everything in their power to make online spaces safer, we need more regulation and legislation to make spaces safe not just for LGBTQ+ youth, but for all users.
1.
We want to see the introduction of an opt in option to the recommender algorithm. This is the algorithm that determines what we see online. Being able to opt in or opt out gives us more control of what we see online.
2.
We’re also calling for strong enforcement of the Digital Services Act by the EU on the protection of minors, with risk assessment and solutions at the forefront to keep us all safe.
We’re engaging with TDs, Senators and MEPs on the harms that online hate and misinformation has on the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ young people. We want to ensure that they are doing all they can to work towards making online spaces as safe as possible for all of us.
With tech companies stepping back from their responsibility to fact check and moderate content – we can step in to help.
Verifying information on social media is more essential now than it has ever been. What happens when content we see is not true or doesn’t give the full picture? Do you know false information when you see it?
What are misinformation and disinformation? Misinformation is false information sometimes spread accidentally. Disinformation is false information put out deliberately to mislead people.
If you’re not sure whether something is accurate, follow the steps Pause. Question. Confirm. before liking, commenting or sharing the content.
HOW TO SPOT MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA
1. Pause
It’s hard to get the full story from a headline or social media post.
Details from news stories are usually written in a way that will catch the reader’s attention so that the post will get more interaction. But this doesn’t mean that the headline or caption is giving you all of the information.
A lot of the time, a caption or headline will include a detail from the story that sounds strange or makes you want to react quickly. An example of this might be ‘Scientist Says Cows Living on Mars’. When you read the full story, you might find out that this is the result of a study that animals could be living on Mars in the year 3070!
This kind of misinformation is more dangerous when it is about certain groups in society, like migrants and members of the LGBTQ+ community. That’s why we need to pause, and question what we see.
2. Question
When you see a caption or headline like the example of cows on Mars, question: is the content using language that might make someone want to react quickly? Are the words used making users feel upset, confused or angry? Could there be more to this story?
Other questions that might be useful are: Is it clear where this information is coming from? Does the content say what its sources are? Does it seem like both sides of a story are being told?
3. Confirm
Finally, it’s important to confirm the facts yourself by using reliable news sources.
The Journal.ie is an internationally verified fact-checker, and the news website regularly fact checks misinformation that is spreading quickly in Ireland. Working with Media Literacy Ireland, The Journal.ie have put together some tips for spotting misinformation – click here to learn more!
Sometimes disinformation is shared on a fake news website or an edited screenshot. Before sharing or commenting, search the news site that the story says it is from and check their website to see if it is there.
A good way to get all of the facts is to read articles from multiple reliable news sources, like The Journal.ie, RTÉ, Virgin Media and the Irish Times.
If you’re still not sure, check out Media Literacy Ireland’s ‘Ask An Expert’ webpage. As part of their Be Media Smart campaign, a team of online safety experts are available to answer questions you have about spotting and verifying misinformation. Click here to learn more.