Thread by @wiczipedia

This morning I woke up to a message from @vanbadham about disinformation spreading in the midst of the wildfires in Australia.

Tonight, on this side of the world, the floodgates are open re: Iran.

Van asked me: what can we do when our loved ones are sharing this stuff? (1/)

You don't need to be a professional fact checker to spot misleading reporting or straight up lies. Here are some quick checks you can do: (2/)

1. Does the outlet list staff and contact info? Reputable news outlets should have real people on their mastheads, and more than a PO Box, or worse, a "contact us" form as their contact info. (3/)

2. Does the article have a byline? If so, what is the author's publication record? Does the gravity of the news they claim to be breaking match it? (4/)

3. Is the photo real? Has it been repurposed (does it claim to be from Australia but is actually from California)? Lucky for you, you can check this pretty easily with reverse image search. @bellingcat's @AricToler just released a great guide on this. bellingcat.com/resources/how-… (5/)

4. Is anyone else reporting it? If something seems too good to be true and no other outlets are reporting something similar, it probably is. (6/)

Okay, so you've done your homework and determined that something doesn't meet the sniff test. Now what? (7/)

First, use built-in reporting on whatever social media site you're encountering the content on to alert admins. Chances are, the purveyors are probably violating terms of service for spam or inauthentic behavior, and the content might be removed or page shut down. (8/)

But what about the actual people who might be sharing this stuff? You know, your loved ones? Your crazy aunt or uncle, who, despite their affinity for conspiracy theories, is still your flesh and blood? (9/)

Try not to get into a flame war. If you know the person, pick up the phone and have a real conversation. If you aren't acquainted IRL, move the conversation to a private space (DM or message), where the stakes are lower. (10/)

Explain what you found out. Be sensitive. It's best not to use the term "fake news," as this person is sharing this content for a reason- one that they probably feel very deeply. The best disinfo is rooted in raw emotion. Walk them through your mini-investigation with care. (11/)

And hopefully this is obvious, but just in case it's not, in your own interactions:

DO NOT link to, retweet, or share disinformation!

Screenshot it. Sound the alarm. But don't use built-in mechanisms to amplify and increase its virality. (12/)

Most of all, just be cautious with *all* your information right now, even from sources you trust.

You may have noticed I've been quiet the last few days; it's not because I don't care about Iran- I'm just very deliberately being HIGHLY selective about what I share. (13/)

I feel like that's my duty, but not just because I study disinformation or have a blue check mark; it's my duty as a citizen trying to keep our digital ecosystem clean.

Hope you'll do your part too.

(/end)