Dirty, Sneaky Tricks on the Web

In chapters 8 and 9 of Verified by the trusty Mike Caulfield and Sam Wineburg, we learn all about the deceptive tricks internet cons play on users through videos and ads. Throughout this book the authors have been trying to better prepare us for our time on the internet. This has taken form in SIFTing methods and how to read the web, but now Caulfield and Wineburg warn us of the dangers of videos and ads…

Fake News in Videos

Videos are deeply ingrained into the internet. Think of YouTube, X/ Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and of course TikTok. Every single one of these platforms uses videos as a main source of information and spreading of information. Think about how most people get their news from these platforms, rather than the news channels themselves. All this sharing of information is made easy with the use of videos.

Sounds great and harmless right? Wrong.

Videos are a main source of the spreading of misinformation. Maybe the person making the video doesn’t realize they are spreading misinformation, but they still chose to make a video outraged about something going on in the world (or so they think) and post it to TikTok. Now, that TikTok goes viral, and thousands of people are spreading the information around like wildfire. It comes across you though, and you remember to stop and SIFT.

In the case of videos, it’s smart to focus on the F in SIFT. Finding other coverage and information on the topic can help you debunk the information faster. It’s also important to trace back the video to its original source. This can, more likely than not, clear up the information by putting it in the full context.

Not everyone knows how to stop and SIFT, which makes false news spread rapidly, and makes it harder to tell what’s real and what’s fake. This is disheartening if you spend too much time trying to find out the “truth,” because nowadays the truth can be anything from any side/ any person… something to keep in mind when running into fake news on the internet is to stop, breathe, and sometimes LET. IT. GO. Sometimes there isn’t a real answer, critical ignoring is just as smart as a choice as SIFTing.

The Trouble with Ads

You debunk that TikTok and scroll past the post, but now you hit an ad. Except you don’t realize it’s an ad. This ad looks like a news article, but at the top you notice it says, “partner content” or maybe “in association with” a certain company. This makes you spectacle. Is this an ad? Unfortunately, yes.

Ads have become stealthy. They don’t flat out say that they are ads anymore. Instead, you have to pay extra close attention to who the article is written by, and if it’s “in association with” a certain company, who conveniently look really good in the article.

What Now?

The internet has become a sneaky place, but don’t forget that when you aren’t too sure about something, stop and SIFT! I know it can be tricky but remembering that the internet often takes a lot of videos and news articles out of context, it’s easier to remember that what you are looking at isn’t the truth. It’s always smart to double check a source or two, or even trace an article back to its original home. The SIFT process doesn’t hurt anyone, so remember to use it the next time you are on the internet. SIFTing just might help you stay clear of misinformation. On the flip side of things, be sure to also put yourself and your health first. It’s not smart to get obsessive with SIFTing fake news sources. Sometimes it’s okay to scroll past an article… you don’t have to be the detective for every piece.