With the continuous spread of disinformation and misinformation online, fact-checking has become a necessary basic skill and civic responsibility for responsible digital citizens.
Indeed, being able to spot, report, and debunk suspicious claims can go a long way.
MovePH, Rappler’s civic engagement arm, has been conducting a series of fact-checking webinars, which focus on the methodology and processes of fact-checking, as well as how the practice applies in thematic areas and issues. Since April 3, we have conducted more than 20 webinars with over 3000 participants across the Philippines and even abroad.
In these webinars, we receive a lot of questions about fact-checking, from the technical side to its practical aspect: Why does it matter that we report false claims on Facebook to its third-party fact-checkers? Keen to respect family ties, how do we properly approach a relative sharing false information?
Here are some of the frequently asked questions in these MovePH seminars:
What is the best way to report a false claim on Facebook?
Social media users may report the suspicious post directly to Facebook. They can also submit the false claim to Facebook’s third-party fact-checking partners. In the Philippines, Rappler is one of the 3 fact-checking groups deputized by Facebook alongside Vera files and Agence France-Presse (AFP).
What happens after we successfully fact-check a false claim?
After Rappler, as one of the official fact-checking partners of Facebook, finds a claim to be false, we publish a fact-check story and rate it on Facebook. This will slow down and eventually stop the spread of the false claim.
The false claim is then downgraded in the newsfeed. Those who shared the false claim will be notified about it and will be given a link to the fact check story so they will understand better why it was rated false.
People or pages which habitually share things that are rated false or misleading are demonetized, so Facebook doesn’t allow them to earn money from their pages. (READ: How we do our fact-check)
What can I personally do to help combat disinformation?
Making a commitment to stop sharing false information is one major step you can take to improve the situation. Sometimes, even the best of us fall victim to fake “news” and share them. By always making it a point to verify and fact-check an information before sharing it, you are on the right track to stopping the spread of misinformation.
Another thing is to respectfully call out people who share and spread misinformation. When you see someone in your network or community sharing something false, you can send them a private message and let them know politely that what they are sharing is false.
What is the best way to call the attention of a family member, relative, or friend who shares false information?
It’s very important to remember to be respectful, calm, and come equipped with facts and proof.
It’s common to encounter people close to us (friends, relatives, parents, etc.) sharing and believing in false information. Approaching the issue calmly and with respect will help them realize that you are only looking after their well-being. You can start by saying that the information they shared may be misleading and can cause harm or offense to other people.
Then you can explain to them specifically how the information they shared is false, and open up a discussion about the impact of spreading dubious information. It’s also good to acknowledge that everyone makes mistakes and that what you are doing is not an attack on them. Let them know that they can also do the same to you should they ever see you spreading false or misleading information.
How do you stop the spread of false information when there are people who do this for a living?
When you spot not just a single post with false information but an organized effort aggressively pushing out the same message, it’s no longer just misinformation, it’s propaganda.
This means that, aside from just fact-checking content, you also need to monitor information operators so you can report them to Rappler. When you report them to us, we are able to monitor their activity and get social media platforms to respond.
Fact-checking is just one way to prevent the spread of disinformation. Media and information literacy is another way to prevent it, so the public knows how to protect themselves from being influenced or falling for disinformation.
Got more questions about fact-checking? Register for MovePH’s webinar to learn how to spot fake “news” online. Follow MovePH on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest updates about these events. – Rappler.com