When I lecture about disinformation, I spend some time talking about how to be a savvy consumer and purveyor of information--especially online. Here's 3 quick tips inspired by this beauty which waves so many red flags you'd think it was May Day! 1/x
Ask yourself 3 questions: 1) Is the source of information actually in a position to know what s/he claims to know? 2/x
In this case, it's impossible to assess the credibility of the source. Eric Trump says he got it "from a friend." I'm sure he has friends, but uncredited sources are not allowed in my classroom, they shouldn't be accepted in a debate on the integrity of our elections. 3/x
Question 2) Does the source of the claim provide evidence to support it or the conclusions inferred from it? 4/x
Again, it would seem here that it's impossible to say. Eric's Tweet didn't provide any photographic evidence of the alleged ballots. Nor did it provide any details about the community in which his "friend" lives. Were these actual ballots or information about voting? 5/x
Question 3: Can you find any other credible sources making the same report? 6/x
Now this requires some serious assessment of what you consider a "credible source." For me, on big stories of national significance, I tend to trust Pulitzer-seeking professional news gathering services who make their living by finding and reporting news. 7/x
If the big news outlets don't have a story that would support a controversial claim, then I'm going to be incredibly skeptical of an anonymous social media post--even if it is fronted by someone famous. 8/x
I'd also tell my students to be careful of confirmation bias (finding sources that confirm my pre-drawn conclusions) and political bias. 9/x
Again, here there is room for reasonable people to debate between bias and editorial standards, but Eric's father has staked out a pretty hard line against voting by mail. It makes anything Eric & his "friends" say or Tweet (especially without real evidence) likely biased. 10/x
So there you have it. Ask yourself those three questions to asses whether that outrageous claim your saw on the internet is worth sharing. If it fills you with warmth or rage and you're doing it to throw a grenade or get daddy re-elected, maybe don't Tweet it. 11/x
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. 12/12. End #Thread Thread.
