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Manage social media overwhelm during crises with critical consumption, awareness of echo chambers, and secure actions.
Are you exhausted by our 24-hour news cycle world?
Trust us, we know. We are too.
Keeping up with the complexities of filtering fake news, contradicting information, and real people’s stories on social media is overwhelming, particularly during times of crisis.
Here are 5 tips to make navigating through social media during these times just a little easier.
It is no coincidence that cyber threats rise during times of crisis. Our natural emotions are heightened and our social media activity increases. But, you should be on the lookout for suspicious links and fake online personas. Bad actors will try to take advantage of these vulnerabilities, so always pause and evaluate before sharing any personal information–
The social media content you experience is a direct reflection of your network and interests. While this allows you to engage with like minded individuals, it can also perpetuate digital echo chambers. Recognize the difference between facts and opinions, and always seek out the bigger story by diversifying your feeds with opposing viewpoints.
Disinformation, misinformation, and propaganda are words that get thrown around interchangeably these days– but there is actually a difference! Disinformation refers to the deliberate spread of false information. The aim of disinformation is to confuse and manipulate the public for financial, political, or ideological gain. Misinformation is when someone mistakenly spreads fake information or believes fake information to be true. Propaganda is information that is specifically crafted to sway consumers into supporting a specific point of view. In a time of crisis, these three will be rampant around all social media platforms.
Especially in this era, AI technologies are making the deployment of false information that much easier. If you want a guide on how to help detect things like deepfakes, check out our other resource on it here. Also, be sure to reference multiple news sources on and off social media. Avoid reposting without reading and reviewing the source.
If you want to take fiscal action, start by researching the charity and looking for a padlock symbol on your browser. This is a sign your browser connection is safe and encrypted for donation. Check out our resource on this for more information.
The most important thing in a time of crisis is to remember that even though everything online feels overwhelming and mystifying, there is a community of people offline who can help you guide through it all. The dissonance between what we witness online and the path to activism is large. It is crucial that you understand the perspective you bring to the table. Determine a plan of action to contribute to the causes you care about, online or offline. Prioritize sustainability over social pressure.
We’re in this together.
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