Chapter 7 Flashcards
What is fake news?
Fake news is deliberately false or misleading news stories that masquerade as truthful reporting.
What is reasonable skepticism?
An attitude which tells us to give up the habit of automatically accepting claims in the media, rejecting the questionable assumption that that most of what’s said online is true, and refusing to a believe a claim unless there are legitimate reasons for doing so.
How are lies different from merely false statements?
Lies are deliberate falsehoods; false statements are merely untrue.
What are the illegitimate reasons for accepting or rejecting claims from a media source?
This source contradicts my beliefs. This source reinforces what I’d like to believe. I reject any claim that comes from sources I don’t like. I feel strongly that the claims made by this source are true; therefore, they are true. Believing this claim or source makes me feel good. I let my intuition or gut tell me whether to trust a source.
What are three questions to ask to help you determine the reliability of an online source?
Are the claims plausible? What is the support for the claims? Have reliable fact-checking organizations examined the claims?
What is lateral reading?
Lateral reading entails comparing what a particular site claims with what other online sources say.
What are two main obstacles to critical thinking that people face when trying to determine if an image is fake?
People tend to believe photos and videos too easily and people are not good at recognizing when an image has been distorted or doctored.
