News Literacy and Countering Disinformation

In an increasingly uncertain world, information has been weaponized and the COVID-19 pandemic has only intensified society’s thirst for information at any cost. Instead of democratizing information, the internet has gradually provided fertile ground for conspiracy theories and opinions to be branded as facts. At its worst, governments are using this lack of public trust to crack down on journalists through violence, disengagement, and a steep increase in state-sponsored propaganda has made it more difficult to decipher the truth. We must protect media and journalism as a core tenet of democracy around the world and inform the general public on the ways they can spot and stop fake news.

What Can You Do:

1. Pause Before Sharing
2. Check Your Sources
3. Ask Questions 
4. Don't Rely Solely on your Newsfeed