MONT 153D: Embodied Activism / Inclusion in Pop Culture (Stefan)

Lateral Reading

Look for other sources that either support or challenge the information in the one you're looking at. This is also called lateral reading - a process where you look for the same information across multiple sources to come to a consensus of what is accurate. Finding better coverage might mean looking for another publisher, writer, or media outlet that is also covering the same issue. Look for information in sources you know are trustworthy.

The video below demonstrates how to use lateral reading to evaluate sources.

Trace Claims, Quotes, and Media to the Original Source

News and information shared on social media can sometimes lack context. Sometimes this is an unfortunate side effect of the platform - if someone only has 240 characters to get their point across, they aren't able to include the same level of context as they would if they were writing a news article. Sometimes it's intentional - people leave out important details or context to try and influence people to think a certain way.

When you're evaluating a social media post, think about what context you need. If you see a quote, can you find who it is attributed to or where it was taken from? Sometimes posters will manipulate or change quotes because they assume people won't take the extra time to find the original. If you're looking at a video or photo, is there an original version that provides a caption or more information? Look for the original context to assess whether the source you're looking at is showing things out of context to fit a certain narrative.

Pay attention to your emotions.

Disinformation, misinformation, and fake news thrive on manipulating people's emotions. If you are reading or watching something that is making you feel an emotional reaction, pay attention to that. Is the source deliberately trying to get you to feel a certain way to manipulate some sort of reaction out of you? Of course, some things you read or watch will genuinely cause an emotional reaction - you're human! If that emotion is used to manipulate you into believing something untrue, however, that's where things get difficult.

Check the date.

Sometimes misinformation takes the form of an outdated story being shared as if it new and current. Before you share or take something as fact, check the date. Was it posted recently? If it is a few years old, can you find updated information about what it's talking about? Why is someone sharing it now? Is it to push a certain agenda?

Know the source's bias(es).

Different publications may have certain bias or points of view. If you're reading an article, watching a video, listening to a podcast, or viewing anything that comes from a specific source, think about what you know about that source. Do they typically post information that shares one single point of view, or do they present more rounded perspectives? What can you find out about their editing process and fact checking? Use a tool like the media bias chart to see where your source falls on a scale of political bias and reliability.

Know your bias(es).

Confirmation bias refers to the tendency to seek out information that is consistent with your existing beliefs. This is something that happens subconsciously, where our brains focus on information that confirms what we already believe, and ignore information that challenges our beliefs. When reading news or conducting research, it's important to be aware of your biases and make sure to seek out information that offers a different perspective from your own so you build a well-rounded understanding of a topic. The video below explains more about how confirmation bias functions.