“Real or Not Real?” Spotting Fake News

We are fortunate enough to be alive at a time in which all the information we could ever dream of learning is at our fingertips. I’ve always lived in a world with instant access to the internet; I could always Ask Jeeves or even text ChaCha when I was away from my computer, and got my first iPhone just before starting high school. I cannot imagine living in a world without the ability to pull up a video of my favorite Real Housewives fight whenever I want to see it. (Mine is the Amsterdam fight from Beverly Hills. If you know, you know.) Or worse, growing up without Real Housewives at all… I shudder at the thought.

Those who forget history…

Instant access to information does not mean instant access to reliable information, though; the spread of misinformation is as old as time itself. With each technological advancement, more opportunities for misinformation arise: in the 1480s, Dominican friars used the recently-invented printing press to spread a wildly successful, Pope-approved guide on hunting and executing witches; in 1938, Orson Welles used radio to deliver his The War of the Worlds broadcast and had New Jerseyans believing in an alien invasion; and since the public debut of the World Wide Web in 1993, just about anyone can publish whatever they want at the press of a button. Now, generative AI has joined the party.

More tech, more problems

The internet makes it easier for us to learn and connect, but also introduces new ways to spread false information. Without knowing how to identify which information is trustworthy, it becomes extremely difficult to make informed decisions about the things we care about. With the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models, we have to learn how to validate information in new ways. After all, the rate at which these new technologies make errors and just tell you what you want to hear is nothing to sneeze at!

Have you ever heard the phrase “pics or it didn’t happen”? It suggests that a story is only trustworthy if it’s accompanied by photo proof. Well, that’s not quite the case anymore! Generative AI has become so good, that even a story with photos or videos must be verified through other means. As this technology improves and becomes even harder to distinguish from reality, we’ll have to rely on our media literacy skills.

So, when you see a new piece of information, ask yourself these questions:

• Who is the source? Do they have a bias I need to know about?

• The title is shocking, but does the rest of the information support its claim?

• Is the person who created this credible? Are they a real person?

• How recent is this information? Is the story outdated?

• The post contains some links and references to other sources. Do they support what this article says?

• Is there any chance that this is a joke or parody, or maybe AI-generated? Are there other trustworthy sources that back up the claim being made?

• Are my biases influencing what I think about this?

Because it is so easy to stumble across and be fooled by misinformation and disinformation on the internet (all of us have fallen for an AI-generated image or video at least once) let’s get a little refresher on identifying suspicious information. About 93% of Americans use the internet and 34% of our adults have used ChatGPT, so we need to know how to do so responsibly!

Variety is the spice of fake news

Misinformation (misleading or inaccurate information) or disinformation (false information deliberately intended to mislead) can appear throughout our lives in many forms, and it is important to be able to recognize it when you see it. Here are some of the most common forms of misinformation and disinformation:

Even if the information you’re assessing doesn’t fit into any of those categories, it may still be inaccurate or misleading. For example, false information is often designed to appeal to the emotions of the reader—it’s important to pause and assess the source whenever a piece of news sparks a strong emotional reaction.

Now there is the additional risk that an entire story—even stories that include photos and videos—could be AI-generated. The information reliability analysts at NewsGuard found that there are currently 1,271 AI-generated news and information sites publishing their stories with little to no human oversight—and the number is rising fast!

Test your skills!

Put your media literacy to the test with these online quizzes and games, designed to help us all improve our abilities in critically consuming information.

• Technology Instruction: AI – MCLS: What is AI? How do I know when I’m looking at something created by AI? Can I avoid it entirely? Does my library use it? This LibGuide from our Technology Instruction department is an excellent way to get all of those questions answered.

• Technology Instruction: Information Literacy – MCLS: Get back to basics with this LibGuide from our Technology Instruction department where you’ll find resources for effectively using search engines, evaluating information resources, and lateral reading.

• Real or Fake Text? – University of Pennsylvania: How good are you at knowing when text has been written by a computer? How many sentences can a computer write before it no longer has you fooled? Find out for yourself!

• 9 Techniques to Spot AI-Generated Videos – caniphish: The line between real and artificial videos is getting blurry. AI-generated videos can entertain or mislead, fueling fake news and realistic deepfake scams. In this blog, we’ll equip you with 9 techniques to spot AI-generated videos and bring these strategies to life with real-world examples.

• Real or AI Quiz: Can You Tell the Difference? – Britannica Education: In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, where filters, CGI, and AI-generated visuals are commonplace, children are increasingly encountering enhanced and artificial content. This new reality prompts a critical question: Can they effectively discern what’s real from what’s not?

• Media Literacy for the Digital Era – Britannica Education: In a world of endless content streams, platforms, and generative AI, empower students to become informed media users with insights, strategies, key terms, classroom activities, and more.

• Mind Your Media: A Game Collection for Digital Awareness -- European Association for Viewers Interests: Whether you’re looking to challenge what you know, start meaningful conversations, or simply explore how we interact with digital spaces, these games are your starting point. Designed for ages 12 and up, they can be played solo, in groups, or with a facilitator to help guide the experience.

Additional resources

Ground News: An innovative platform that empowers readers to compare news coverage, spot media bias and think critically about current events in real time. Compare 50,000 news sources in one convenient place. Get media bias and factuality ratings for news outlets. See how news stories are covered across the political spectrum. Balance your news diet with the My News Bias dashboard. Supported languages: English, Spanish, French. Some content may include mature themes and language. Available online or through the Libby App.

MCLS Technology Instruction Resource LibGuide: A trove of resources for all of your basic and not-so-basic tech questions. The MCLS Technology Instruction Program also offers group classes for adults on Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Windows, Internet, and more! All classes take place at the Lawrence Headquarters branch in the computer classroom, and you can check out our current offerings here.

Ask A Librarian: When in doubt, ask a librarian. MCLS has a reference librarian ready to answer your questions whenever we’re open, so don’t hesitate to use our website or give one of our Reference Desks a call when you’re unsure about the validity of some information you’ve come across. We’ll always do our best to help you out!

You can also pair your new knowledge with the insight in these past blog posts:

• “Fact Checking 101” by Anna V. S., February 2017

• “Defending Yourself Against Fakers on Facebook” by Laura N., September 2017

• “Information Literacy” by Shanna C., April 2023

• “That Doesn’t Seem Right to Me…” October 2024

Check out some new materials about this topic, too!

320.973 MCQ 2024, 33041026533294

302.231 BRI 2024, 33041026708482

320.014 KAN 2023, 33041026552708

302.3 VAN 2023, 33041026086012

303.375 DIR 2024, 33041026831656

342.73 KOS 2023, 33041026412127

303.48 NIC 2017, 33041022531094

001.9 ARI 2023, 33041026387162

001.98 BER 2023, 33041026207956

302.3 WIG 2023, 33041026247176

DVD 302.23 FIG, 33041023768281

320.973 KAM 2024, 33041026872239

320.973 MCI 2023, 33041026329743

006.3 NAR 2024, 33041026879259

And a few more for our young readers:

J 070.43 GRA 2022, 33041025759007

J 070.43 2022, 33041025605739

Y 070.4 HEI 2018, 33041023299014

Y 070.43 OTI 2020, 33041024637766

Y 302.23 HUL 2022, 33041026205380

Y 302.23 ROL 2023, 33041026489182

-Kelsey C., Lawrence HQ Branch