The meteoric growth in AI tools has made it easier to quickly create a story and complicated a reader’s ability to determine whether a news source or article is accurate or trustworthy. Earlier this year, for example, people were sharing an article about the alleged suicide of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s psychiatrist as fact. It turned out to be an AI rewrite of a satire piece from 2010.
The problem is widespread. “Ninety-five percent of Americans believe the spread of misinformation is a problem,” according to a 2021 Pearson Institute/AP-NORC poll. The Pearson Institute researches ways to reduce global conflict.
As library scientists, we combat the rise in misinformation by teaching various ways to verify the accuracy of an article. These methods include the SIFT Method (Stop, Search, Find, Watch), the PROVEN Source Evaluation method (Purpose, Relevance, Objectivity, Verifiability, Expertise, and Novelty), and lateral reading.
Lateral reading is a strategy used to research a source by opening a new browser tab, performing a search, and consulting other sources. Lateral reading involves cross-checking information by searching the source rather than scrolling down the page.
Here are five techniques based on these methods to help readers separate news fact from fiction:
1. Research the author or organization
Look for information beyond the organization’s own website. What are others saying about it? Are there any red flags that make you question its credibility? Search your browser for the organization’s name in quotation marks and look for sources that critically examine the organization or group. An organization’s “About” page can tell you who is on its board, its mission, and its nonprofit status, but this information is often written to present the organization in a positive light.
The PROVEN Source Evaluation method includes a section called “Expertise” that encourages readers to check the author’s credentials and affiliations. Do the authors have advanced degrees or expertise in the subject matter? What else have they written? Who funds the organization and what are their affiliations? Do any of these affiliations present a potential conflict of interest? Could their writing be biased in favor of a particular viewpoint?
If any of this information is missing or questionable, you may want to stay away from this author or organization.
2. Use good search techniques
Learn search techniques available in your favorite web browser, such as searching for keywords instead of full sentences and limiting searches by domain names such as .org, .gov, or .edu.
Another good technique is to put two or more words in quotation marks so that the search engine finds the words next to each other in that order, for example, “Pizzagate conspiracy.” This leads to more relevant results.
“77% of search queries that use the title or URL of a false/misleading article as a search query return at least one unreliable news link among the first ten results,” a team of researchers wrote in an article published in the journal Nature.
A more effective search would be to identify the key concepts in that headline and search for those individual words as keywords. For example, if the headline is “Video Showing Alien at Miami Mall Sparks Invasion Claims,” readers might search for: “alien invasion” Miami mall.
3. Verify the source
Verify the original sources of information. Is the information correctly quoted, restated, or quoted? Can you find the same facts or statements in the original source? Purdue Global, Purdue University’s online university for working adults, recommends verifying citations and references, which also applies to news stories, by making sure the sources are “easy to find, easy to access, and up-to-date.” It also suggests checking the original studies or data cited for accuracy.
The SIFT Method supports this by recommending that you “trace claims, quotes, and media back to the original context.” You can’t always assume that re-reporting is accurate.
4. Use fact-checking websites
Search fact-checking sites like InfluenceWatch.org, Poynter.org, Politifact.com, or Snopes.com to verify the claims. What conclusions have the fact-checkers reached about the truth of the claims?
A paper published in the Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review found that “high levels of agreement” among fact-checking sites “increase the credibility of fact-checkers in the eyes of the public.”
5. Pause and think
Pause and think about what you’re reading to see if it triggers a strong emotional response. A paper in the journal Cognitive Research shows that news items that cause strong emotions increase our tendency to “believe fake news stories.”
An online study found that the simple act of “pausing” to think and reflect on whether a headline is true or false can prevent a person from sharing misinformation. While the study found that pausing only reduced sharing intentions by a small amount — 0.32 points on a 6-point scale — the authors argue that it could still reduce the spread of fake news on social media.
Knowing how to spot and fact-check misinformation is an important part of being a responsible digital citizen, and this skill is becoming even more important as AI becomes more prevalent.
This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization that delivers facts and analysis to help you understand our complex world.
By Tracy Bicknell-Holmes Boise State University;Elaine Watson, Boise State Universityand Jose Guillermo ‘Memo’; Cordova Silva, Boise State University.
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The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in, or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and they have disclosed no affiliations beyond their academic appointment.