Media Literacy Overview
Extra Resources
“Why smart people are more likely to believe fake news” — The Guardian
“How Finland Is Teaching a Generation to Spot Misinformation” — NYT
National Association for Media Literacy Education
Key Terms
Conspiracy Theory — a belief that some covert but influential organization is responsible for a circumstance or event.
Confirmation Bias — the tendency people have to believe things that confirm their pre-existing beliefs and to disregard things that conflict with them.
Implicit Filter — Any unconscious filter that we place on the news and information we get. For example, the friends you follow on social media.
Explicit Filter — Any conscious filter that we place on the news and information we get. For example, following MSNBC rather than Fox.
Heuristics — A “rule of thumb” or short cut. Fact-checking is time-consuming and difficult, so people use heuristics to make sense of the world. For example, believing a story without researching it because it was posted by a person or entity that you trust or like.
Ramsey Theory — Given a large enough data set, an intelligible pattern is guaranteed to emerge.
QAnon- The largest conspiracy theory group in the United States. They believe that a satanic group of pedophiles / reptile-human hybrids is running the world’s affairs and that President Trump was waging a secret war against them. They also believe that a mysterious figure/group named Q is engaged in that battle and is giving them top-secret intelligence.
Intuitionists vs Rationalists — Belief in conspiracy theories is highly correlated with “magical thinking,” a form of intuitive thinking. For example, if you believe in supernatural or paranormal phenomena, you are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories because both are founded on the idea that events can be attributed to unobservable forces. Both ways of thinking reject the observable explanation of events. When intuitionists feel anxious, they look for something to rationalize that experience. Since you feel afraid, there must be a monster in the closet. Rational thinking is based on facts, claims, and deduction. Rationalists care about what is tangible and what can be proven.
What makes people believe in conspiracy theories?
- Roughly 75% of the population believes in at least one conspiracy theory. It cuts across socioeconomic, gender, and racial divisions and shows up at every level of our society.
- People who feel uncertain, powerless, and confused by the world gravitate toward conspiracies because conspiracies offer simplistic explanations of complex, systemic issues. In other words, it must be powerful people and organizations who are orchestrating large, powerful world events.
- For example, the Covid-19 pandemic could be explained more easily by the belief that “it was a planned Chinese attack” or “is caused by 5G cell towers.”
- Belief in conspiracies is highly correlated with paranoid thinking and distrust in people/institutions.
- Conspiracies are often propagated as a form of political propaganda. So, for example, if you are against environmental regulations, you may gravitate toward the idea that climate change is a “hoax.”
Can conspiracy theorists be rehabilitated?
- Conspiracy theorists cannot be swayed by facts or data because their beliefs are rooted in identity, flawed heuristics, and the “sunk cost” is often too great for them to admit they’re wrong.
- If they perceive you as being “outside their tribe,” they will adopt a defensive posture and perceive any argument as a threat to something which is foundational to their identity.
- It is possible to rehabilitate these people, but it requires someone from their own tribe to lead them out and provide what is called a “permission structure.” Essentially, someone who used to think like they did has to explain from personal experience (and with empathy) how their thinking changed. This gives the conspiracy theorist “permission” to change their views without shame.
Is there any way to tell if a story is fake?
- Yes, there are some helpful tips that will help you navigate the media landscape.
- If a headline engenders a strong emotional response, that’s a red flag.
- If a sensational story is being reported by only a couple of media outlets, that’s a red flag.
- If the story seems like it is providing “wish fulfillment,” then it should be looked upon with skepticism.
- Stick to well-known media outlets — for example, Reuters, WSJ, NYT, etc. and stay away from “some guy’s” blog or YouTube channel.
