Can we learn to tell good knowledge from bad? Elon Musk interviewed Donald Trump on X — but not everything they said had evidence. Here are some tips for separating facts from fiction.
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Trump spouts stream of untruths on X
Can we learn to tell good knowledge from bad? Elon Musk interviewed Donald Trump on X - but not everything they said had evidence. Here are some tips for separating facts from fiction.
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On Monday, billionaire Elon MuskA South African-born entrepreneur whose companies have included the online payment service PayPal. interviewed Donald TrumpAn American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020. on his social media company, XA social media network, formerly known as Twitter and owned by Elon Musk. .
Musk has already told Americans that he would like Donald Trump to be the country's next president. They spoke for two hours, but not everything the men said had evidenceSomething which proves that something else is true. .
Last week, Musk shared false rumours that UK leaders are building prison camps on the Falkland IslandsA remote South Atlantic archipelago with a population of just over 2,800. It is a British Overseas Territory. . Trump has also claimed that Kamala Harris, who is also running to be president, faked a crowd at an airport using AIA computer programme that has been designed to think. .
During their talk, Musk said technical problem were caused by hackersSomebody who breaks into computer systems and gets hold of data they are allowed to see. They often then blackmail the group they have stolen data from, and ask for money in return for their data back. - X workers did not agree. Trump made false claims about global heating.
Online misinformationIncorrect or misleading information unintentionally presented as fact. It can be contrasted with disinformation or deliberate lies. is unlikely to stop any time soon.
Which means we need to be armed with critical thinkingAnalysing available facts, evidence and arguments to form a reasonable judgement. skills to tell fact from fiction. Here are some tactics you can use to stay informed.
Can we learn to tell good knowledge from bad?
Yes! Learning to tell what is true from what is not is what a good education is all about. Learning facts is important, but so is learning key life skills.
No! There is so much false news online. We cannot spend all of our time working out what is true and what is not. There are simply not enough hours in the day.
FOR YOUR SUMMER READING CHALLENGE CLUE GO TO STEP SIX IN THE SIX STEPS TO DISCOVERY BELOW.
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Keywords
Elon Musk - A South African-born entrepreneur whose companies have included the online payment service PayPal.
Donald Trump - An American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020.
X - A social media network, formerly known as Twitter and owned by Elon Musk.
Evidence - Something which proves that something else is true.
Falkland Islands - A remote South Atlantic archipelago with a population of just over 2,800. It is a British Overseas Territory.
AI - A computer programme that has been designed to think.
Hackers - Somebody who breaks into computer systems and gets hold of data they are allowed to see. They often then blackmail the group they have stolen data from, and ask for money in return for their data back.
Misinformation - Incorrect or misleading information unintentionally presented as fact. It can be contrasted with disinformation or deliberate lies.
Critical thinking - Analysing available facts, evidence and arguments to form a reasonable judgement.
Worldview - The way someone sees and understands the world.
Biased - Unfairly showing dislike or like.
Trump spouts stream of untruths on X
Hype: Donald Trump claimed that “60 million or something” were listening to his triumphal return to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday in a conversation with Elon Musk. Only 1.1 million were listening at that moment. Musk did not correct him. Glossary
Elon Musk - A South African-born entrepreneur whose companies have included the online payment service PayPal.
Donald Trump - An American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020.
X - A social media network, formerly known as Twitter and owned by Elon Musk.
Evidence - Something which proves that something else is true.
Falkland Islands - A remote South Atlantic archipelago with a population of just over 2,800. It is a British Overseas Territory.
AI - A computer programme that has been designed to think.
Hackers - Somebody who breaks into computer systems and gets hold of data they are allowed to see. They often then blackmail the group they have stolen data from, and ask for money in return for their data back.
Misinformation - Incorrect or misleading information unintentionally presented as fact. It can be contrasted with disinformation or deliberate lies.
Critical thinking - Analysing available facts, evidence and arguments to form a reasonable judgement.
Worldview - The way someone sees and understands the world.
Biased - Unfairly showing dislike or like.