Scroll Smart (Media Literacy Skills to Spot the Fakes)

Learning to distinguish between misinformation, disinformation, and facts is more important than ever.

From the publication of the first newspaper in 1605 until the dawn of the internet in 1983, media evolved steadily but slowly. A few decades ago, finding out what was going on in the world was a simple process. People could watch one of a few news outlets, read a limited array of print media, and of course, talk to friends and neighbors. But the world of the twenty-four-hour news cycle, the evolution of social media, and the rise of technology such as artificial intelligence changed everything. They have led to information saturation that can be overwhelming—and hard to spot the truth in.

Utilizing critical thinking skills, applying a few simple fact-checking tests, and understanding a piece of content’s purpose or bias can help you understand the truth about what’s going on around you. Scroll Smart provides details about how to evaluate articles, posts, videos, and more to boost your media literacy and become a safer, savvier media consumer.