Do not trust but verify
When I receive messages marked “frequently forwarded” and with flashy headlines on social media and instant messengers or see statements copied from anonymous channels calling for me to wake up, come to my senses or act, I get, as they say these days, triggered.
Perhaps this is a consequence of professional disinformation. After all, the fundamental principle of a professional journalist is fact-checking. Quotes and details of events are usually verified from the original source (rather than blindly reprinting texts to which no one has even dared to subscribe). It is better to go to the scene of the events to see everything with your own eyes and, ideally, you should call and ask the person everyone is talking about and quoting.
Of course, the average person (viewer, listener, reader, social media user) is not obligated to do all this and more often than not, they do not have the necessary skills, resources, contacts and tools. Yet, to avoid falling victim to blatant manipulation and provocation in this age of information permissiveness, any information consumer should, above all, use their head.
You should be especially vigilant if you come across videos and texts devoted to global conspiracies (for example, around vaccination), the influence of shadow governments and elites on economy and societal development, the notorious chipping of the population and so on. All of these, as a rule, are emotionally charged and urge you to distrust everyone, including the media and government officials (but for some reason, believe the authors of these publications) and supposedly open your eyes to the true plans of secret societies, etc...
Posts calling for immediate resistance, boycott and all manner of obstruction require no less vigilance. You see, some are now calling for the construction of a synagogue in Dagestan to be stopped, while others are calling for signatures to be collected against the opening of a Caucasian cuisine café in a residential area of the capital. Still others are calling for a complete boycott of any products from American and European companies that allegedly sponsor world wars. Let me say to these people the following: we have been living under sanctions and import substitution for several years and to buy genuine Western goods and products, especially from companies that pay taxes outside of Russia, we have to go to great lengths. And yet – please note – no one is rushing to give up their iPhones, which are used to publish all the appeals above.
However, I think I have gotten carried away playing Captain Obvious myself. I will not try to disabuse you of the notion that vaccines inevitably cause autism or that Freemasons rule the world. Whether you believe it or not is up to you. But I will still offer a few tips on how to perceive and evaluate any information.
- Check the source. Who published the video or article? A news agency, a specialized publication, a reputable YouTube channel with a professional team and a large number of followers or a no-name blogger? Consider whether you can trust such a source.
- Identify the author. Who created this message? Who is narrating the video? Who conducted the interviews and with whom? If the video mentions associations (doctors, scientists, researchers), foundations, or companies, make sure they at least exist. If it is a study or survey, it is a good idea to find out who conducted it, when, and among what audience, and where the results were published (are there any links?). I hope there is no need to mention British scientists, residents of unnamed cities, specialists in unclear fields, and other “experts”. If a professor/analyst/politician is quoted, inquire about their work, what organization and interests they represent, whether they have sufficient knowledge to make an opinion on the stated topic and whether it is their area of expertise. Importantly, is the stated position criticised by real experts on the subject.
- Maintain neutrality. Remember that everyone has their own interests, including those who are trying to open your eyes to the real state of affairs. Compare opposing points of view (anti-vaxxers and pro-vaccine advocates; government officials and opposition politicians; official media and publications that reflect a different position). Ask yourself: why are they trying to convince you of one version or another? Do you want to succumb to panic? Perhaps the author of the publication is trying to rediscover America? Is it worth wasting time on such a pioneer? In any case, try to follow the rule of the golden mean: most often, the truth is neutral.
It is no surprise that women often fall into the traps of online manipulators. This is facilitated by their inherent emotionality, their concern for the health and well-being of family members, their eternal desire to assume the role of savior (whether in the face of global epidemics or a global conspiracy) and the anxiety associated with this role (how can you remain calm when the world threatens to collapse unless you send a video to all your contacts?). However, let us not forget that women also have another, no less important mission: creating peace, comfort and harmony in the home, including bringing passionate men down to earth, who are ready to rebel against injustice. Therefore, it is doubly important for women to be able to recognise manipulation and provocative appeals.
