America is at war. Russia and other hostile powers are making ongoing, pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy now after successfully undermining our 2016 election. There are many bad actors crying "Fake News" to distract from the drama that is the Trump presidency.
Here are 3 easy ways to protect yourself and those you love from media disinformation.
Don't Get Your News from Facebook or Any Social Media Sources
Don't get your news from Facebook and don't believe most of the news sources you see on the social media network. Facebook is one of the worst offenders but overall be very skeptical of all news sources on social media. You don't really know where the so-called news sources are coming from.
A Facebook page with over a million followers called “I Love America” that featured patriotic themes, rippling flags and pro-Trump memes were shut down in October after it turned out to be run by Ukrainians.
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Twitter accounts or Facebook pages with millions of followers are easy to fake. A high follower count doesn't mean the source is credible. To quote your mother:
If all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you follow them?
Educate Yourself on Media Bias and News Based on Facts
Media Bias/Fact Check is an independent online media outlet that is dedicated to educating the public on media bias and deceptive news practices. Media Bias/Fact Check follows a strict methodology for determining the biases of sources.
Funding for organizations comes from donations and third-party advertising.
For your reference, here's how Media Bias/Fact Check assigns ratings for factual reporting:
VERY HIGH - Known for straight factual reporting. The publication has not failed a fact check. The source is used as a resource for fact-checkers.
HIGH - Factual searches reveal publications have not failed a fact check.
MOSTLY FACTUAL - Mostly Factual in reporting, rather than High due to misleading information presented by guests as well as a few failed fact checks by TV hosts. However, news reporting on the website tends to be properly sourced with minimal failed fact checks.
MIXED - Mixed factually based on poor sourcing and the spreading of conspiracy theories that later must be retracted after being widely shared. Further, Fox News would be rated a Questionable source based on numerous failed fact checks by hosts and pundits, however, straight news reporting is generally reliable, therefore we rate them Mixed for factual reporting.
Use Common Sense
Utilize your common sense. There are certain facts that are no longer under dispute.
These are the federal and congressional intelligence and national security groups that have stated that Russia interfered in the 2016 election and that Russia is planning to undermine the 2020 election.
- Central Intelligence Agency
- Office of the Director of National Intelligence
- F.B.I.
- National Security Agency
- Justice Department
- Department of Homeland Security
- House Intelligence Committee
- Senate Intelligence Committee
The United States intelligence experts on national security agree that our country continues to be attacked by Russia. Rudy Giuliani and Devin Nunes screaming loudly about "the deep-state" doesn't make it true.
