Fight

"Fake News" with Media Literacy

It’s everywhere

Learning Targets

Students will

• know what media literacy is
• know what a filter bubble is and how it affects them
• how to discern fact from fiction
• know how to identify reliable sources

Where do you get your NEWS?

Doublecheck your sources

What is Media Literacy?

Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act using ALL forms of communication.

television, radio, print and online media

Media Literacy is Needed Across Every Curriculum

"Media literacy is more important than ever.

How do you know if a viral post is real or just clickbait?

How can you tell if a TikTok health trend is safe or dangerous?

How do you spot fake news when influencers push opinions as facts?

Learning how to fact-check, think critically, and question what we see online isn’t just a school skill—it’s a life skill."

Causes & Impact

https://newslit.org/get-smart/

Why does disinformation spread so fast?

• Internet and App Algorithms - filter bubbles
• Social Media - easily and rapidly shared
• Internet - provides easy access to information across the world

Which sources of news are most trustworthy?

NEWSPAPERS

Star Tribune, New York Daily

Times, The Wall Street Journal

TV: LOCAL & NATIONAL NEWS

ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN, etc…

RADIO NEWS PROGRAMS

National Public Radio (NPR), BBC,

CNN Radio News, CBS Radio News

Beware Online "Filter Bubbles," a TED Talk

Apps like TikTok use a sophisticated recommendation algorithm powered by machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver personalized search results and put together content for the For You Page. The algorithm continuously adapts based on user behavior to keep engagement high.

What is a Recommendation Algorithim?

Tik Tok Algorithim

TikTok tracks how users interact with content, including:

• Watch time, Rewatches, Likes, comments, shares, and saves
• Following and account interactions: If a user follows an account or engages with its content, similar videos may be recommended.
• Content creation: If a user uploads certain types of videos, the algorithm may show them related content.

Search Results

The search results you see today

are influenced by things you

looked up in weeks, months or

even years ago.

Your past follows you around.

Your data is used by search algorithms to give you personalized results.

Your search results can be different from your friends.

Let’s do a Google search on your phone

Search for President Trump on your phone & compare your top 3 websites with others in your group.

• Are they the same?
• Talk about why you think they may be different.

President Trump

Filter Bubble

The seach personalization is so strong that it creates a “filter bubble,” limiting users’ exposure to

new sources, ideas, and viewpoints.

Examples of

algorithm filtering

10:45

Friday, October 11

Google saves your search history.

Maps track your location.

Social media apps know your friends.

Amazon remembers what you buy.

Examples of filtered search results

They all encourage you to take action

How deep are you stuck in your filter bubble?

Take this quiz to check

https://www.filterbubble.lu/

Let’s check your filter bubble

President Trump

SEARCH

Image: https://newslit.org/tips-tools/did-you-know-harder-to-be-informed/

Since the 2016 election, the term “Fake News” has become common phrase.

​

We hear it used frequently by news anchors, politicians, and the general public.

But what is it?

What is fake news?

Deliberately published hoaxes, propaganda, & misinformation, that seeks to mislead, rather than entertain readers for financial, political or other gain.

-Wikipedia

Heather D. Sanders @koolteecha

Heather D. Sanders @koolteecha

Evaluating a News Article

It can be exhausting but it’s the only way to know if information is correct.