How to spot and avoid spreading fake news

It’s time thatwe recognize one of the great challenges confronting our democracy: We are at an inflection point where factsmay no longer continue to matter.

The notion of “alternative facts” is no longer so far-fetched. Emotions and opinions threaten to supplant evidence, and conspiracy theories and viral rumors can overwhelm reason. This is especially pernicious on social media— today’s no-holdsbarred public square.

The corrosive threat of misinformation permeates every aspect of our civic life. It undercuts our ability to protect ourselves and others fromCOVID-19. It undermines trust in the news media and in our democratic institutions— and, in particular, the right of citizens to cast their ballots.

Indeed, with ElectionDay onNov. 3 fast approaching, we’re being deluged with news reports, opinion columns and commentary, social media posts, images, videos and other communications about candidates, campaigns and the act of voting itself.

Butwe don’t need towait for the ballots to be counted to make one call: Much of whatwe’re reading, watching and hearing is not intended to inform us, or even persuade us. Instead, it’s created to misinform us, inflame us and divide us.

This iswhywe each need to do whateverwe can to give facts a fighting chance. Facts are the basis for whatwe teach in our schools, for scientific research and findings, and for public policy debates and decisions. If facts are in trouble, democracy is too.

There is no panacea for the contagion of misinformation. One answer might be regulation of social media platforms, where so much of this toxic content originates and circulates. It’s also helpful to call out the creators of false content, such as those peddlingQAnon tropes and other dark conspiracy theories, and the Russians and other bad actors seeking to undermine American democracy.

Still, those forces are largely outside of our individual control. What each of us can control is whatwe consume, and especially whatwe do with it. False content could not achieve the virality that makes it so pervasive without millions of us making a conscious decision to spread it.

Yes, some people share things that they knoware false or inaccurate because they believe that doing so will serve their interests— perhaps personal, perhaps financial, perhaps ideological.

But most of uswould never knowingly infect our families and friends. Sometimes we may share something, even ifwe don’t knowit to be true, out of a hope that it may help someone if it proves to be true.

Orwe may share as away of asking our family, friends or followers “Can you believe this?” Orwe might be motivated to spread something provocative or sensational in the pursuit of recognition through likes, shares and retweets.

Whatever the reason, this dissemination of misinformation— and even lies— brings to mind this line froma classic “Pogo” cartoon:“We havemet the enemy and he is us.”

So what canwe do to inoculate ourselves and others against this scourge? Practice good information hygiene. Learn simple news literacy skills. Push back against false content.

■ When you encounter something that you’re tempted to share, start by asking yourself: Does it actually inform, or does it play to emotions and seek to persuade, sell, incite or exploit? Fear, anger or sadness (or even excitement or joy) can undercut our critical thinking.

■ Next, read past the headline or subject line: Whocreated it? Is it based on credible sources or documents? Does it tell or show you enough to allowyou to make up your own mind, or are you blindly accepting its premise as legitimate?

■ Dig a little deeper: Explore whether what it’s purporting to impart is being widely reported or is coming fromonly a single source. Because truth often takes time to emerge, followa story over time and through multiple sources. Seek a wide range of views— not just those that you agree with.

■ Then look within and ask yourself: What bias am I bringing to this? AmI seeking information or confirmation?

■ Finally: Is this something that I can responsibly trust, share and act on?

We need to create a new mindfulness about media consumption and turn it into a movement. We have already seen a sea change in public attitudes around drunken driving, smoking and littering. It’s timewe make sharing misinformation socially unacceptable behavior aswell.

Consider the motto of poker champion Erik Seidel: “Less certainty. More inquiry.” These days, that’s a good hand for all of us to play.