Online platforms are places we can connect, express, learn and explore.

But we know sometimes they can also turn nasty. There’s a lot of hate online. So what can we do about it?

We need to remember that social media is powered by us - the users. If it’s toxic, we can change it. We can shape it for the better.

We’re holding social media platforms to account, calling on them to make our social media what we want it to be.

#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.

 

Better social media starts with us – the users. Every day we all learn so much from our favourite creators.

But what happens when this content 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.