Will truth survive? Fake news is easier to generate, faster to distribute and harder to disprove than ever before. Some wonder how we will get through this rapid escalation of online dishonesty.
Fake news and fantasy: 2023 in misinformation
Will truth survive? Fake news is easier to generate, faster to distribute and harder to disprove than ever before. Some wonder how we will get through this rapid escalation of online dishonesty.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">What's happening?</h2>
The pope in a puffer coat. Donald Trump tackled to the ground by policemen. Joe Biden with a corn-coloured mullet.
These are just some of the fake images that went viral this year. They were generated by artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence, or "AI," is the ability for a computer to think and learn. With AI, computers can perform tasks that are typically done by people, including processing language, problem-solving, and learning. technologies which can be accessed by anyone online. This means that all it takes is an idea, and anyone can make fake news a reality.
More than 85% of people are worried about the impact of online disinformationFalse information intended to mislead, including propaganda, which all too often encourages the spread of misinformation, fake news spread by mistake. It is contrasted with misinformation, which may be spread accidentally. . And there was plenty of it this year.
In January, activists claimed that America would ban all gas stoves in an attempt to reduce emissions. In February, images and videos shared online appeared to show a nuclear plant exploding due to an earthquake in Turkey.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Find out more</h2>
In September, festival-goers were stranded in the Nevada Desert attending the annual Burning Man festival. Social media users claimed that attendees had contracted EbolaA highly infectious disease causing internal and external bleeding. A vaccine against it has recently been developed..
In October, French intelligence alleged that the bedbug panic sweeping Paris had been made up by KremlinA central fortress in a city, used to refer to a complex in Moscow with five palaces and four cathedrals. The Russian government is run from within this citadel. propagandistsA person who disseminates propaganda.. This month, social media users claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had bought two multimillion-dollar yachts.
Some worry that the quality of fake news is only getting higher, whilst our media literacyThe ability to apply critical thinking skills to mass media. is declining. With several vital global elections due to take place next year, some say we need to build a handbook for determining what is real.
<h5 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper" id="question"><strong>Will truth survive?</strong></h5>
Yes! There is lots of fake news, but people always figure out what is real and what is fake in the end.
No! It has become possible for anyone to generate fake news for free in mere seconds. We will never know what is true for certain again.
Artificial Intelligence - Artificial intelligence, or "AI," is the ability for a computer to think and learn. With AI, computers can perform tasks that are typically done by people, including processing language, problem-solving, and learning.
Disinformation - False information intended to mislead, including propaganda, which all too often encourages the spread of misinformation, fake news spread by mistake. It is contrasted with misinformation, which may be spread accidentally.
Ebola - A highly infectious disease causing internal and external bleeding. A vaccine against it has recently been developed.
Kremlin - A central fortress in a city, used to refer to a complex in Moscow with five palaces and four cathedrals. The Russian government is run from within this citadel.
Propagandists - A person who disseminates propaganda.
Media literacy - The ability to apply critical thinking skills to mass media.
Fake news and fantasy: 2023 in misinformation
Glossary
Artificial Intelligence - Artificial intelligence, or “AI,” is the ability for a computer to think and learn. With AI, computers can perform tasks that are typically done by people, including processing language, problem-solving, and learning.
Disinformation - False information intended to mislead, including propaganda, which all too often encourages the spread of misinformation, fake news spread by mistake. It is contrasted with misinformation, which may be spread accidentally.
Ebola - A highly infectious disease causing internal and external bleeding. A vaccine against it has recently been developed.
Kremlin - A central fortress in a city, used to refer to a complex in Moscow with five palaces and four cathedrals. The Russian government is run from within this citadel.
Propagandists - A person who disseminates propaganda.
Media literacy - The ability to apply critical thinking skills to mass media.