It is no exaggeration to state that social media has completely transformed the way that global communication is undertaken in modern society, and a not insignificant portion of that communication is unfortunately the spreading of false information.
The ability to learn how to recognize disinformation is a vital factor in protecting yourself from the harmful impacts of manipulated narratives, and the same can be said on a much wider, societal scale.
Explored below are seven of the most essential tips that can help both individuals and organizations to identify disinformation before it is able to take root, and what can be done to combat it effectively using education and a social media monitoring solution.
Firstly, to avoid any confusion, disinformation refers to the category of misleading or deliberately false information that is created with the intention of manipulating, misleading and deceiving targeted audiences. When connecting the problem to social media in particular, disinformation tends to take on the following forms.
These are stories that are completely false and stem from no source of truth, designed with the express intention to directly misinform consumers.
Refers to videos and/or images that have been cleverly and often imperceptibly altered, with the intention of distorting the reality that their unaltered versions represent.
The presentation of accurate information in such a way that it achieves the goal of creating a false impression. In essence, developing a false story from something originally genuine.
The term used for fake accounts that pose as legitimate organizations or individuals of high status. Inserted into social media platforms in an attempt to add an air of legitimacy to the content they share. A strong awareness of these core tactics should be seen as the first step towards being able to perform effective disinformation detection.
Source: security.org
Evaluating the source of the information in question is the first and most fundamental skill to refine. This can be done in a number of ways including checking whether or not the account is verified on the platform and has a credible bio, reviewing past activity on their feed to see if the pattern of sharing false information is a consistent one, and researching the name of any organization to check factors such as history, ownership and assess any problematic affiliations.
The golden rule to keep in mind is that legitimate sources of news will strive to represent transparency, whilst the unreliable sources will operate in veiled mystery to avoid major scrutiny. The ability to question these sources is essential both in terms of personal knowledge and brand disinformation detection.
- Seek out multiple historically credible news outlets to cross check that they are reporting the same piece/pieces of information.
- Commit to getting out of the habit of relying on viral headline posts that do not have appropriate levels of verifiable evidence attached to them.
- Investigate the history of any account and/or organization in order to assess their level of credibility on the platform.
By its very nature, disinformation thrives on consumers not questioning the unverified claims that have been made. There are a number of ways to counteract this, one of the most useful being a reverse image search. This can help to identify whether or not an image has been altered or changed to be taken out of context. Secondly, there is the opportunity to cross reference against more credible outlets, comparing the information in question with the information being shared from more historically trusted sources.
Thirdly, there is also the general practice of seeking an alternative explanation rather than taking the first narrative as the only one. It is important to consider a range of perspectives in order to uncover the possibility and presence of misleading narratives. In essence, effective disinformation detection in a world of media manipulation often hinges on successful and diligent verification.
- Perform a Google Reverse Image search to help determine the origin of any given image.
- Refer to reputable fact checking websites such as Snopes and FactCheck.org in order to cross reference any potentially contentious claims.
- Utilize specialized tools such as InVid to help analyze video content for any suspected manipulation.
Disinformation is often so successful because it succeeds in exploiting emotions in order to bypass any critical thinking on the consumer’s part. Some key facets of this include making exaggerated claims in alarmist or sensational headlines, using emotionally charged language and words that aim to incite outrage, fear or anger, and incorporating manipulative anecdotes and stories that are designed to completely distract from the facts of the matter. The ability to recognize these common tactics is a big step in increasing one’s inner disinformation risk detection.
- It succeeds in triggering a quick emotional response, which bypasses logical reasoning by the individual consuming it.
- The more emotional content is, the more likely it is to be shared, therefore increasing its spread across social media.
- Manipulative narratives often create an ‘us versus them’ type dynamic, with the express intention of being as polarizing as possible for audiences.
Exercising a degree of logical evaluation is the key to uncovering the apparent flaws in any disinformation. The first thing to consider is internal contradictions, as in do the claims being made within the content conflict with one another? Oversimplifications are also a big red flag, is a complex issue being reduced to something incredibly simplistic? This should always be in line with cross checking the statements with established sources that are long proven to be authentic.
- Presenting a false dichotomy, which is essentially offering only two extreme options of a scenario when multiple exist.
- Ad hominem attacks, which refer to an attack on a source rather than an academic addressing of the argument in hand. Very much a style of substance kind of tactic.
- Appeals to authority that appear in the guise of unverified or sometimes completely fabricated ‘experts’ that are used to bolster false statements and narratives.
Getting into the habit of relying on credible fact checking organizations can stand you in good stead for combating disinformation. Using tools like FactCheck.org and Snopes can be useful in quickly validating or invalidating specific narratives. Credible information will always be backed up by citations and references that can be further explored, and another safe avenue to follow is relying on authoritative sources like governmental and academic publications for reliable context on certain high profile matters. A combination of all of these practices can assist in effective disinformation detection that always ensures a good level of content validity.
- The International Fact Checking Network (IFCN), a global network of trusted and reputable organizations.
- Full Fact, based in the UK with a dedication to combating misinformation online.
- AFP Fact Check, another global fact checking project that is operated by Agence France-Presse.
Growing the talent of recognizing recurring patterns and trends in disinformation strategies is a vital element in enhancing one’s vigilance. Repetition is a leading tactic, repeating falsehoods in order to reinforce credibility not through fact but simply through familiarity. Another is the above mentioned false authority, in which statements are attributed to fake experts and general unreliable, unqualified individuals under the guise of expertise. And thirdly, there is the ‘bandwagon appeal’ approach, in which a widespread belief is suggested in order to coerce inflated levels of agreement. Being able to spot these tactics in real time can aid in resisting efforts to influence public opinion.
- Coordinated events of posting on behalf of multiple bot accounts.
- Repeated use of any specific hashtags with the aim of amplifying chosen narratives.
- Links to dubious, unverified websites that contain misleading and/or biased content.
Source: IFLA
Alongside all of this ‘human’ training and vigilance, technology offers an incredibly powerful solution for the problem of how to recognize disinformation successfully. This can include browser extension platforms like NewsGuard that automatically assess the credibility of a website, and more advanced social media monitoring tools like Osavul that utilize AI driven detection and algorithms to track disinformation as it emerges.
Osavul provides a cutting edge solution for help with disinformation detection, offering game changing features like real time monitoring to identify problem narratives as they arise, detailed reports filled with insights into the spread of social media narratives, and customizable features that help users tailor the options to the specific needs and preferences of their industry or chosen topic.
The integration of Osavul is a decision that will enhance the detection capabilities of any organization.
This feature allows for the tracking and addressing of any false information that is targeting a brand with the aim of damaging its standing with the wider public.
From a governmental point of view, Osavul can be used to monitor disinformation that has the potential to influence opinion when it comes to things like policy debates and decisions.
In terms of individual use, Osavul can be of great assistance to every group from citizens to journalists to educators and more, helping them to stay informed about the ongoing trends in disinformation.
Ultimately, Osavul’s powerful suite of tools allows for a robust and proactive set of measures to guard against the plethora of modern digital threats.
It is clear to see that the prevalence of disinformation across social media platforms only underscores the need for strong and sturdy vigilance alongside personal critical thinking and help from cutting edge technology.
Following the seven tips we have laid out above alongside the leveraging of incredible tools like Osavul can provide both individuals and organizations the best possible chance of achieving effective disinformation detection.
A combination of media literacy and advanced technology can provide the perfect foundation for making sure that you or your organization do not fall victim to the ever evolving tactics of social media disinformation campaigns in 2025 and beyond.
