We live in a world awash with misinformation and disinformation. “Misinformation is false or inaccurate information—getting the facts wrong. Disinformation is false information which is deliberately intended to mislead—intentionally misstating the facts.” Disinformation in particular, often leveraged through X, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms, and created by political, corporate, criminal, and other bad actors besieges us on a daily basis. It’s a never ending quest for our attention, our personal data, our money, our vote, perhaps our very soul.
How can we function and stay sane in a world like this without giving in? The forces of disinformation want us to give up, to retreat, to let them take our piece of mind (and our money and our vote and our rights)!
But there are ways. We one-by-one can strike back; we can brake the chains of greed and power-seeking and nullify their apparent power. Individual actions can lead to collective power!
In a world of shouting disinformation, what does it take to become an Information Independent?
- Resolve to NOT live in fear
I know. It is hard when you are constantly being told the sky is falling! But, fear is corrosive especially when artificially created and purposefully used (for example, by authoritarian politicians trying to gain or consolidate power).
Fear impacts the decisions we make and the actions we take. We do things we would not do if the fear was not present. We believe things we normally would not. We act against our own best interests. Giving in to fear is what the promoters and creators of disinformation want! Giving in to fear means that you lose …
Reduce or eliminate the fear and the stress through knowledge and understanding.
How to do it —
Understand the context of information important to you; reduce the fear and anxiety
See also —
Knowledge and understanding can overcome fear and anxiety
Fear — impacts on decision-making and behavior
Using social media: effects on well-being and mental health
- Smart phones, laptops, chatbots, AI and all technology are tools
That’s right. You wouldn’t think it seeing people walking their dogs while staring mutely at their phones but none of these things are essential. You can still live life well without being plugged in.
Think of technology as tools, not as a lifestyle. Use the tools appropriately to do a job or complete a task (make a call, make a purchase, etc.) … and then remember that your phone, your computer, your tablet all have handy buttons and slides and other ways to put them to sleep or turn them off. Actually do it. Your phone, your computer, etc. don’t have to be the most important things in your life 24 hours a day. And you don’t actually have to be available to technology 24 hours per day …
Put them away, turn them off, lift your face away from the screen. Look at and listen to the actual world around you. You may be surprised by what you see and hear!
See —
AI, finding information, and surviving
- Be a shrewd and conscious consumer of information–just as you are when you buy groceries or a sofa or search for an apartment.
Be skeptical, read the “label”, get some background, ask questions, get a second (and third) opinion, don’t believe everything you are told, make up your own mind, don’t spread garbage just because your uncle or the President said it.
How to do it —
See also —
How and why does false information spread online?
Mental models: misinformation and truth
Become an Information Independent! Spread the word! Take charge of the information you need for your life. Don’t be manipulated by those seeking to take advantage of you!
Questions? Please let me know (engelk@grinnell.edu).
One comment