4 Algorithms as a Factor in the Spread of Misinformation

WEEK 4: ALGORITHMS as a FACTOR in the SPREAD of MISINFORMATION
Overview:

This week we will be examining how algorithms contribute to the spread of misinformation. As usual, these activities will also provide opportunities to consider resources in relation to our immediate objectives as media literacy educators and influencers and your future work as media literacy researchers It will take up to 6 hours to complete all of the assignments in this module.

Objectives:

1. Investigate the positives and negatives about how algorithms affect the information we see in search results and social media spaces.
2. Create a social media post from what you’ve learned in the module
3. Begin planning for Misinfo Day

Activities: 

1. Introductions To Algorithms

(30 minutes)  Go to our Checkology course, log in, and complete the Introduction to Algorithms module.Than answer the following questions:

• • • What are the positive and negative effects of personalization?
    • How can we escape the filter bubble?
    • Do you think this information would be useful for our communities? Why/why not?

2.  Search Engines and Algorithms 

(60 minutes) Read the article It’s Not Just a Social Media Problem – How Search Engines Spread Misinformation, then answer the following questions:

• • • Use fact checking techniques to find out where this information is coming from. What evidence did you find that this is credible information?
    • What will stick with you from the key ideas in this article?
    • The author alludes to 3 ways to deal with this problem at the end of the article. What are they? How can we integrate these ideas into our work?

3.  Algorithms and Social Media 

(60 minutes) The previous article described how algorithms affect search results. Now learn about the effects of algorithms on social media Algorithms in Social Media Platforms.

• • • Use fact checking techniques to find out where this information is coming from. What evidence did you find that this is credible information?
    • What are the effects of algorithms according to the author?
    • How have you seen algorithms at work in your own social media accounts? How so?
      Is the topic of algorithms as related to media literacy of interest to you in your future research? Why/why not?

(30 minutes)  The first 2 articles we read focused on the negative effects of algorithms. Now read this brief article from Pew Research on potentially positive uses for algorithms, Mixed Views about Social Media Companies Using Algorithms to Find False Information.

• • • Why don’t people like the use of algorithms on social media networks to find false information?
    • What do you think about it?

4. Create a Social Media Post

(60 minutes) Choose one of the following:

• Create a short reel (60 seconds or less) for Instagram or Facebook related to what you’ve learned this week. Submit a link to the reel rather than the reel itself.
• OR write a brief blog post (1-2 paragraphs) to help your peers better understand the issues we learned about this week. Include an image to be used with the post.
• OR create a series of 3 posts with images and wording for Facebook or Instagram. Include the hashtag #DisinfoSquad in your creation.

PRO TIPS:
– Include captioning on reels that have no type.
– Link to one of the resources you’ve used in the course or on the Disinfo Debunking guide

5. Review Misinfo Day Material

(2 hours)  One of our objectives this semester is creating programming for a Misinfo Day event of our own. The Euphorigen Escape room game is an option, but let’s consider others as we begin preparation. Misinfo Day was created by the Center for an Informed Public at University of Washington. We will use their Misinfo Day resources to complete this assignment.

Go to the University of Washington’s Misinfo Day Virtual Library for Educators. Choose 2 of the resources there to review and consider for our use in our own Misinfo Day programming.  Then respond to the following questions:

• What lesson/recording/resource did you review first?
• What do you think of the lesson/recording/resource? Is it something we could use in some way? How so?
• What lesson/recording/resource did you review second?
• What do you think of the lesson/recording/resource? Is it something we could use in some way? How so?