week 9

With applications like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, it is easy to waste time mindlessly scrolling through the myriad of short videos uploaded. Though interesting and grabs our attention easily, it is not always what it seems. There are a few steps to consider before believing what is being seen. It must be observed thoroughly, and some investigation must be done.

One must understand what they are looking at in the video. Is it AI? Is it made by a human? Is it real or fake? Finding other coverage can be easy. Look up anything related to the video, and see what pops up. Reading comments can help as well. These can help figure out if news coverage is real or AI slop. Sometimes it is harder to find the truth; this is exactly what propagandists and con artists do. They feed on the impatient because investigation and reflection are time-consuming. Uploading old videos to make them seem like they are modern is a trick that is done to fool the public. Con artists and propagandists are sneaky—watch out for links as well.

If someone describes a controversial video and sends you a link, sometimes you still must do some investigating. Unfortunately, as close as you may be to that person, do not assume the source is fully accurate. The longer the video, the easier it is to believe; the shorter it is, the more likely you are to question it. Molloy’s law suggests that the tighter a video is clipped, the less inclined you should be the share it. Always seek the longer video. As the adage goes, measure twice, cut once.” It is important to think before sharing a video with someone else. The internet is already riddled with false information, spreading across like a disease. Check the facts, do some digging, and make sure what is being shared is facts.

This was another interesting chapter in Verified, written by Mike Caulfield and Sam Wineburg. People say, “Do not believe everything you see on the internet,” yet these are the ones still spreading inaccurate information. It is not easy to tell what is real and what is not. I agree that con artists and propagandists feed on the impatient. If you are like me, sometimes you watch videos before bed. Sometimes I will do some deep dive into the research, and sometimes I will not. It is hard to tell what is real these days. It is sad as well. This chapter was helpful to recap.