Spotting Fake News
How to Spot US Propaganda
- Model curiosity - Pause consumption of media and ask people around you to ask questions about what you say, learn to not watch passively.
- The Why Habit - Ask why the media was produced, presented, and created the way that it was.
- Use real life examplesDo it during the moment of consumption, why am I reaching for this item at the store vs other items.
- Fact check together - "That’s interesting but have you fact checked that?"" Empower people to look beyond the flashy headlines.
- Share thoughtful media - Point out good practices and WHY it’s good.
- Encourage “what if” scenarios - What is someone else told this story, are there other ways to see this story from a different POV.
- Follow the Money - Who is paying for this, why do they want us to believe it, and what do they benefit from spending this money?
- Make predictions - Can you assess where the message is going and if there are patterns of assumptions?
- Look for patterns - Ask why they show up and when.
- Ask what the evidence is - Approach this from a teamwork perspective to understand the broader picture.
- Emotional triggers - Ask how this media makes you feel and how that influences decisions.
- Encourage others to ask additional questions - What questions do they have after the consumption to encourage creativity and skepticism?
- Model Not Knowing - Shows openness to not knowing and learning answers together.
💡Remember: Pause before Reacting