COMM 505 Module 5 Blog Post by Shen Dong

COMM 505 Module 5 Blog Post by Shen Dong

Disinformation and misinformation

    Disinformation involves the deliberate spread of false infor mation with the intent to deceive (Bastick, 2021). In contrast, misinformation occurs when inaccurate information is shared inadvertently, without premeditation.

Role of algorithm and echo chambers

    Such assistance comes from Artificial intelligence (AI) applications that use natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) can offer systematic analyses that can reliably and accurately sift through large volumes of data. These fields are introduced and AI-enabled tasks for detecting various “fakes” are laid out. Although AI can assist us, the decisions are obviously in our own minds. (Lim, 2024, p.660)

Psychological factors

    The human mind is a strong force that drives the consumption and spread of misinformation. Whether it is a function of the structure of the social media platforms or the users’ habitual behavior of spreading misinformation, the underlying factor is the human mind behind misinformation. Research has shown that human cognition plays a bigger role, and social media platforms take advantage of weak human factors when it comes to misinformation. It is the humans to share online, and it is the humans to transmit networks. Misinformation is analogous to a virus that can infect people and spread within and between the human nexus of networks. The more it is shared, the more transmittable it becomes. (Shin, 2024, pg. 4)

Factchecking website

    Fact-checking determines the credibility of online information. At some point, nearly all Canadians(96%) have verified information they encountered. Some Canadians regularly fact-check, with about 17% saying that they always use at least one additional source to verify the accuracy of news stories. Another 36% stated that they often fact-check, and 32% said that they sometimes do. (Statistics Canada)

References

Lim, X. J., Quach, S., Thaichon, P., Cheah, J. H., & Ting, H. (2024). Fact or fake: information, misinformation and disinformation via social media. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 32(5), 659–664. https://doi-org.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/10.1080/0965254X.2024.2306558 

Rubin, V.L. (2022). The Problem of Misinformation and Disinformation Online. In: Misinformation and Disinformation. Springer, Cham. https://doi-org.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/10.1007/978-3-030-95656-1_1 

Shin, D. (2024). Introduction: The Epistemology of Misinformation—How Do We Know What We Know. In: Artificial Misinformation. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi-org.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/10.1007/978-3-031-52569-8_1  

Statistics Canada. "Retail Trade, November 2023." The Daily, 20 Dec. 2023, www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/231220/dq231220b-eng.htmLinks to an external site..  Accessed 02 Nov. 2024.