What is 'Misinformation In The Age Of Information' ?
- Misinformation - Information which is false, misleading and incorrect.
- In The Age Of Information - terms forseen refer to 'New Media' ; primarily focusing on the "Internet".
- Short clip on Internet misinformation : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUGHWzaA3sA
Background :
Nine or ten years ago, the Internet was essentially an academic tool for research and information. Presently, with the rising spread of false or misleading information on the internet, this could damage its usefulness as an information tool.
If we don't have the ability to understand the web as it's now emerging, we will end up with things that are very bad. Certain umdemocratic things could emerge and misinformation will start spreading over the web.
Unfortunately, the Internet also contains a great deal of infomation that is neither valuable nor reliable. Since anyone can post comments or information on the Internet, users need to develop critical thinking skills to judge the accuracy of online information.
- Do you trust the Internet 100% now? I go for a 50/50.
Misinformation can appear on the Internet in many guises such as:
- Hate sites that spread malicious misinformation. ( Personal over-reaction as influencial. )
- Weird online "informercials". ( Commercial sites with bogus content to for attraction.)
- Sites which promote fake products. (Mis-branding.)
- Personal opinion that is presented as facts.
- Email hoaxes. (eg :http://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna/technology/zafi.htm )
- Ever popular fake personal infomation in social networking sites .
...........and much more.
- Dictionary.com still works for me though. Agree? Or am I too lazy to open up a real-life dictionary. Dictionary.com is a registered website anyway. So far the words I've searched on have 99% similar meanings to the ones in Oxford dictionary.
Misinformation is spotted when the information:
- varies over same findings from different websites.
- unreliable and non-certified sources.
- unrealistic.
- When browsing certain websites, do you ask yourself " Does this information on the website make sense? " Common sense is sometimes the best indicator of quality or lack there of.
Why do misinformation happen?
- Unintensionally- Accidental. Yes, we understand. Not everything is perfect.
- Intensionally- That hidden objective which is hard to distinguish.
- It's like '2nd life'. Desires evoke. Fantasies provoke. Reality awoke.
Children and young teens at high-risk :
- Children may have a hard time distinguishing between good and bad infomation on websites. They tend to lookout word for word which only they understand. Care less.
- Young teens seems to be confused at most time . Influencial victims.
- Maybe the education governing body should start working on an extra subject concerning the guidance to safe use of the Internet. Should implement this as early as the primary school stages. What do you think?
Never be misinformed. Practice this :
- Check the authority of the site. ( eg: WHOIS database or Whois.net)
- Check the accuracy and the coverage of the site. ( Is information comprehensive ?)
- Check the objective of the site. ( Does website has obvious bias ?)
- Check that the information on the site is current.
- Don't just 'scan' a website. Start evaluating too :
- Evaluating internet infomation : http://www.library.jhu.edu/researchhelp/general/evaluating/
- Techniques to apply on questions to ask : http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html
- Sensing information counterfeits : http://www.library.jhu.edu/researchhelp/general/evaluating/counterfeit.html
* video link on "methods to evaluating a website" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnrL8wQQIoE&feature=related
- Should start off working on a software which sniff fake information too. Agree ?. I know its not easy. But this creator could be rich than Bill Gates.
Some cases of misinformation years back :
1. Wikipedia misinformation :
(a) Misinformation of John Seigenthaler (political figure) occured in Wikipedia : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1318115.cms
(b) Presently, that misinformation statement had been cleared : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Seigenthaler,_Sr.
(c) How authorative is Wikipedia? : http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/124/1028124/court-rules-wikipedia
2. Apparently most sites jokes about President Obama fluffed during oath-taking but not this : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4307886/Barack-Obama-should-retake-fluffed-oath.html
3. Former trader gets jail for posting false info online (a Singapore case) : http://www.asiaone.com/Business/News/My+Money/Story/A1Story20080318-55054.html
4. Online scam in Singapore : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/324257/1/.html
5. Review of false information on social networking sites : http://www.realwire.com/release_detail.asp?ReleaseID=6671
My point of view :
The web has transformed the way many people work, play and do business. I feared that, if the way the internet is used is left to develop unchecked, "bad things" could happen. Certain undemocratic things could emerge and even much more misinformation will start spreading over the web. Most importantly, everyone is responsible for the way we access the information and its reliability. We need to be aware of Internet outcomes.
Have you encounter any misinformation from our local authorised websites (.sg) ? So far i have not.
