Information Literacy and Libraries in the Age of Fake News by Denise E. Agosto

Author:Denise E. Agosto
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ABC-CLIO

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Given the limitations of critical thinking as a solution to fake news and the fact that fake news ought not enjoy the same sorts of speech protections as other forms of speech, we should consider other interventions that could supplement the critical thinking approach. A number of interventions are possible at the level of governmental law and policy or of corporate decision making and technological/social design. Indeed, many different approaches are already being tried, from fact-checking to blocking known fake news Web sites (Guynn 2017).

There are, moreover, a number of steps that librarians and other information professionals can also take to combat fake news. Educating users about critical thinking is an important first step, but here are some others that might be considered:

Individually and collectively work to create norms on social media platforms around thoughtful sharing and “liking” information. Consider the epistemic impact of your sharing practices and encourage others to do so.

Stay informed about efforts to curb the influence of fake news. Note research-backed approaches. Take advantage of these approaches when possible. For example, one recent study showed that people who are likely to consume and believe fake news rarely go to fact-checking Web sites (Guess, Nyhan, and Reifler 2018). Thus, relying on such systems alone to fight fake news is unlikely to be effective.

Support the creation of tools that enable individuals to easily spot or block fake news. For instance, a system called NewsGuard, which would provide expert ratings of the overall accuracy of news Web sites, is currently in the works. Unlike fact-checking sites like Scopes and Politifact, it would provide the rating right next to the search results. It may be available as an add-on that libraries could include on their computers.

Create and support the use of aids for determining the accuracy and source of information. Look for ways to make it easier for users to find high-quality information sources and avoid low-quality sources. In addition to NewsGuard, a number of automated systems to identify potential fake news are currently in the testing stages (Snow 2017; Graves 2018).

Inform the public about the problem of fake news, while avoiding politically polarizing cases and language.

Support reasonable measures by governments and corporate actors to reduce the amount of fake news displayed by search engines and social media sites. A recent report by the Brookings Institution suggested that, in addition to making it easier for consumers to spot fake news, media technology companies should “make it hard to monetize” fake news by removing the financial incentive of online advertising from fake news sites (West 2017). These are responses that the government could encourage with Federal Trade Commission regulations.

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