Today I’m delving into the pervasive issue of misinformation online, exploring the challenges of discerning truth amidst digital noise. We’re discussing the role of algorithms in amplifying inflammatory content on social media and media platforms, driven by engagement metrics. We’re also going to learn some incredibly important tools for media literacy, like the SIFT method by Mike Caulfield for quickly validating online information. As a longtime journalist and content creator, I’m giving insights into the impact of personalized social feeds, biases in search engines, and the need for skepticism and diverse sources in evaluating online content. This episode offers practical techniques to identify credible sources (including how to quickly read an article in a scientific journal) and encourages listeners to engage with community perspectives to counteract digital polarization.

• 00:00 Introduction
• 00:13 The Problem of Online Misinformation
• 01:47 The Role of Social Media Algorithms
• 02:22 The Impact of Inflammatory Content
• 05:53 The Psychology Behind Viral Content
• 07:11 Media Sites and Political Content
• 07:59 The Importance of Balanced Takes
• 08:56 Capitalism and Content Creation
• 10:58 The For You Page and Personalized Feeds
• 14:38 The SIFT Method for Fact-Checking
• 24:14 Rapid Fire Tips for Evaluating Information
• 26:09 Conclusion

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The Liz Moody Podcast cover art by Zack. The Liz Moody Podcast music by Alex Ruimy.

Formerly the Healthier Together Podcast. 

This podcast and website represents the opinions of Liz Moody and her guests to the show. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for information purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.

The Liz Moody Podcast Episode 273.