In today’s onlife world, where misinformation and disinformation are readily available at our fingertips, teaching youth and teens how to navigate the vast landscape of social media and fact-checking has become an important and imperative component of digital literacy education. The consequences of sharing inaccurate or false information, whether due to misinformation or deliberate disinformation, can be significant and include:
Erosion of Credibility: Your personal or professional credibility may suffer when it becomes apparent that you lack the ability to discern falsehoods and the diligence to authenticate content before distributing it.
Impaired Reputation: If the content you share is contentious or offensive, others might associate those viewpoints with you, potentially tarnishing your reputation.
Academic Ramifications: Incorrectly referencing or citing information can lead to lower academic scores.
Professional Ramifications: Embracing misinformation or disinformation could lead to misguided decisions. If this information is contentious or prejudiced, it might harm your professional standing and create obstacles to finding employment.
The overabundance of fake news, misinformation, and biased narratives makes it crucial for parents and educators to equip youth and teens with the necessary skills to help them separate fact from fiction. One effective strategy that can help achieve this is an investigative technique is known as lateral reading.
What Is Lateral Reading?
Lateral reading is a term that comes from Sam Wineburg, an Education and History professor at Stanford University and the Founder and Executive Director of the Stanford History Education Group and Stanford’s Ph.D. program in History Education. (1) This technique encourages students to venture beyond the initial source and conduct a comprehensive investigation at the same time.
According to the News Literacy Project, “Lateral reading helps you determine an author’s credibility, intent, and biases by searching for articles on the same topic by other writers (to see how they are covering it) and for other articles by the author you’re checking on.” Unlike vertical reading, where one stays within a single source or website, lateral reading encourages students to look across multiple sources to gain a comprehensive understanding of the information being read.
Why Is Lateral Reading Important?
- Social media platforms often present information through algorithms that cater to users’ pre-existing beliefs and preferences, creating an echo chamber effect. By practicing lateral reading, youth and teens learn to question their sources and search for alternative viewpoints, enabling them to uncover biases and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the topic.
- Fake news and “click bait” have become an unfortunate reality in the digital landscape. Lateral reading equips youth with the necessary tools to evaluate the credibility of sources, cross-referencing information from multiple outlets, fact-checking websites, and reliable journalistic sources. It helps youth and teens identify red flags such as exaggerated claims, lack of author credentials, or clickbait headlines, empowering them to distinguish trustworthy information from deceptive content.
- Lateral reading is an essential component of digital literacy, a skill set necessary for youth and teens to navigate the complexities of the online world. By teaching lateral reading techniques, parents and educators can equip youth with critical evaluation skills, enabling them to become active and discerning consumers of online content. This empowers youth and teens to make informed decisions, participate in civic discussions, and contribute to a healthy and informed digital society.
In today’s onlife world, where misinformation and disinformation are easily accessible, it’s crucial to teach young people how to navigate social media and verify the information they encounter. This skill should be a vital part of digital literacy education.
So How Do We Laterally Read:
Now that we know what lateral reading is, how do we teach youth, teens, and even adults how to use this powerful investigative process? Well, before we even start a lateral reading process, a teen should ask themselves the following questions:
- Why was the information published? – what was its purpose?
- Who is behind the information posted and what are their credentials?
- Was it a friend on social media?
- Was it a person you don’t know?
- Is it a new organization or one that has a significant track record?
- Is it a promoted, sponsored, or ad-based posting?
- Is the posting from an “anonymous” source that has no citations?
- What is the evidence for their claims?
- Is it a factual claim or is it an opinion?
- Is the information supported with evidence?
- Is the evidence from a reliable and reputable source?
- What do other reputable sources say about the information in question?
Here’s a useful acronym we developed to help youth and teens systematically verify the information young people come across during the lateral reading process: F.A.C.T.S.
F – Find: Locate the Original Source of the Information
The first step in fact-checking is to trace the information back to its origin. Many times, news articles and social media posts summarize or reference other sources. Click on those links and see where they lead. If the original source is credible, such as a well-known news organization, academic institution, or government agency, you’re off to a good start. However, if the source is unclear, biased, or outright fake, you should be skeptical.
Remember: The original source often contains more detailed and nuanced information. It allows you to see the context and understand the full picture, rather than relying on potentially oversimplified or biased summaries. Identifying the original source is crucial in distinguishing between legitimate information and falsehoods.
Tips:
- Look for primary sources – official statements, direct interviews, original research studies.
- Beware of broken links or sources that don’t lead to the claimed original information.
A – Analyze: Analyze the Content for Bias or Logical Fallacies
Once you’ve found the original source, it’s time to analyze the content. Look for signs of bias. Does the author present the information fairly, or do they seem to push a specific agenda? Check for logical fallacies, which are errors in reasoning that weaken arguments. Common fallacies include:
- Ad hominem: Attacking the person instead of the argument.
- Straw man: Misrepresenting someone’s argument to make it easier to attack.
- False dilemma: Presenting only two options when more exist.
Remember: Bias can distort the truth, and logical fallacies can mislead you. Identifying these issues helps you evaluate the reliability of the information. Analyzing content for bias and logical fallacies helps prevent you from being swayed by one-sided or faulty arguments.
Tips:
- Identify the author’s perspective and potential motives.
- Look for loaded language that indicates bias.
- Consider whether the information is presented in a balanced way, acknowledging different viewpoints.
C – Cross-check: Cross-check with Other Reputable Sources
Don’t rely on just one source. Cross-check the information with multiple reputable sources. If the story is true, other credible organizations will likely report it as well. Diverse perspectives can also provide a more balanced view of the topic. Reliable sources include major news organizations, academic journals, and official reports from established institutions.
Remember: Cross-checking helps confirm the accuracy of the information and reveals any discrepancies. It also provides a broader understanding of the issue. By cross-checking, you ensure that you’re not being misled by a single, potentially biased source.
Tips:
- Use fact-checking websites like Snopes, FactCheck.org, the Associated Press, Google Images, Tineye, and the Wayback Machine.
- Look for sources that have a track record of thorough and unbiased reporting.
- Pay attention to how different sources report the same event or fact.
T – Think: Think Critically About the Information Presented
Critical thinking involves questioning the information you receive and considering its broader context. Ask yourself:
- What is the purpose of this information?
- Who is the intended audience?
- What evidence supports the claims?
- Are there any potential biases or conflicts of interest?
Remember: Critical thinking helps you go beyond surface-level acceptance and understand the deeper implications and credibility of the information. Thinking critically helps you avoid falling for misinformation and disinformation by encouraging you to look deeper and question the validity of what you’re reading.
Tips:
- Consider the context in which the information is presented.
- Reflect on your own biases and how they might affect your perception.
- Evaluate the quality of the evidence and the logic of the arguments.
S – Share Carefully: Share Information Only After Verifying Its Accuracy
Before you share any information, make sure you’ve thoroughly verified its accuracy. Sharing false or misleading information can contribute to the spread of misinformation, which can have real-world consequences. By sharing carefully, you help maintain the integrity of the information ecosystem and become a more responsible digital citizen.
Remember: Sharing accurate information helps prevent the spread of misinformation and maintains the integrity of your digital presence. Careful sharing ensures that you don’t inadvertently become part of the problem by spreading false information.
Tips:
- Verify the information through multiple reliable sources.
- Add context or disclaimers if necessary when sharing.
- Avoid sharing information that you’re unsure about, even if it seems interesting or aligns with your views.
Here’s a screenshot of what our browser looks like when we are using lateral reading of a specific article that we find questionable:
You will note in the above screenshot, we are lateral searching an article “Cellphone use may be causing young adults to grow horns on skulls” (Tab #1) that went viral in 2019 that caused a moral panic among parents over cellphones and kids. As we cycled through the other tabs, entering information that was found in the first article, we quickly learned that both the research and results of the study that led to this article were significantly flawed and therefore unreliable.
In a world where disinformation and misinformation can spread rapidly and impact society, it is imperative to prioritize the teaching of lateral reading skills as an important part of digital literacy. By equipping youth and teens with the ability to critically evaluate online content, cross-reference information, and discern credible sources, we can empower youth to be responsible and well-informed digital citizens.
Lateral reading utilizing the F.A.C.T.S. methodology not only strengthens fact-checking abilities, but also nurtures critical thinking skills, fostering a generation of individuals who can navigate the complex digital landscape of today’s onlife world with a critical eye and discernment.
Fact-checking is an essential skill in today’s onlife world. By following the F.A.C.T.S. and utilizing the lateral reading method, youth and teens can become a more discerning consumer of information and help combat the spread of misinformation and disinformation. Remember, always Find the original source, Analyze the content for bias, Cross-checkwith reputable sources, Think critically, and Share carefully. By applying these steps, youth and teens can contribute to a more informed and accurate online community, positively shaping the information landscape. Stay informed and stay smart!
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
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