Eres eslabón de la cadena desinformativa y debes pararla | Victoria Jiménez | TEDxVillacarrillo

Key Concepts

• Desinformación (Disinformation): The spread of false or misleading information, often with the intent to deceive.
• Bulos (Hoaxes/Fake News): False stories or claims presented as factual.
• Información Incidental (Incidental Information): Information encountered passively through algorithms, not actively sought out.
• Intoxicación Generalizada (Generalized Intoxication): A state of being overwhelmed by constant information, making discernment difficult.
• Perfiles Falsos (Fake Profiles): Online accounts created to impersonate others or spread false narratives.
• Bots: Automated accounts used to amplify messages and spread disinformation.
• Ganchos (Hooks): Attention-grabbing elements used in disinformation to lure audiences.
• Infoxicación: The state of being overwhelmed by too much information, leading to confusion and inability to process it effectively.
• Mente Crítica (Critical Mind): The ability to analyze information objectively, question its source, and evaluate its validity.
• Viralidad (Virality): The rapid spread of content online.
• Influencers/Creadores de Contenido (Influencers/Content Creators): Individuals who have a significant online following and can influence opinions.
• Periodismo (Journalism): The activity or profession of writing for newspapers, magazines, or the internet.
• Fiscalizador del Gobierno (Government Watchdog): The role of journalism in holding government accountable.
• Contrapoder (Counter-power): The role of journalism as a check on the power of the government.

Historical Context of Disinformation

The video begins by establishing that disinformation is not a new phenomenon, citing historical examples:

• 1835 New York Sun: Reported the presence of life on the Moon, publishing illustrations of fantastical characters and scenarios. This was known as "The Great Moon Hoax" and had a significant impact at the time.
• Ancient Rome: Emperor Caesar Augustus spread rumors that his political adversary, Mark Antony, had lost his mind due to Cleopatra. He had coins minted with phrases like "a Greek, a drunkard, or Cleopatra's puppet" to discredit Antony and deem him unfit for governance.

These examples highlight that the spread of false information has been a tactic used throughout history, with the current era characterized by the significant impact of new technologies on its diffusion.

The Role of Technology and Social Media

The advent of new technologies has fundamentally changed the landscape of disinformation:

• Diffusion of Hoaxes: Technological advancements have become decisive in the spread of hoaxes.
• Passive Information Consumption: Individuals have become passive recipients of "incidental information."
  • Definition of Incidental Information: This is information that finds us, rather than us seeking it out. Social media algorithms and audience segmentation deliver this information based on our known tastes, political ideology, and even potential purchases.
• Speed and Reach of False Information:
  • Studies indicate that false information spreads seven times faster than truthful information.
  • It has a 70% higher probability of being shared.
• Prevalence of Sharing False News: A study from Complutense University of Madrid found that 95% of the population has shared a false news item at some point in their lives.
  • Motivations for Sharing:
    • Pure amusement (majority).
    • Economic or propagandistic interests (7%).
    • To harm someone (3.5%).

The Paradox of Information Access and Disinformation

The video points out a paradox: despite having greater and better possibilities to access information, we are potentially living in a period of significant disinformation. This is attributed to the proliferation of hoaxes, which obscures clarity and makes it difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood.

• Generalized Intoxication: This refers to a constant information overload that makes it increasingly difficult to discern, analyze, and contrast what is true.
• Awareness vs. Action: While we are becoming more aware of how disinformation works (e.g., fake profiles, bots, personalized hooks generated by AI), we continue to share information without realizing we are contributing to its spread.

The Impact on Younger Generations

Younger demographics are particularly vulnerable to disinformation:

• Safe the Children Study: Over half of young people in Spain have difficulty differentiating between fake and real news.
• Information Sources for Gen Z:
  • 70% of Gen Z get their information solely from social media.
  • Serious, traditional media have a negligible impact: 9% for informative radio, 3.5% for print media.

The Crisis in Journalism

The rise of disinformation coincides with a profound crisis in journalism:

• Depopulated Newsrooms: Newsrooms are increasingly understaffed.
• Resource Constraints: Journalists have less time, fewer resources, and fewer tools to produce quality work.
• Financial Instability: Since the 2008 crisis, media outlets have struggled to establish sustainable funding models.
• Public Administration as Primary Clients: Public administrations and institutions have become the main clients of media organizations.
• Compromised Watchdog Role: This economic dependence on institutions compromises journalism's role as a government watchdog and counter-power.

Examples of Disinformation in Practice

The video provides contemporary examples of disinformation:

• Donald Trump and the Papal Conclave: The White House's official social media channels disseminated a doctored photograph during the last papal conclave. This is described as a mere propagandistic stunt, but disinformation goes much further.
• COVID-19 Pandemic: This period was characterized by widespread hoaxes and disinformation.
• DANA in Levante (Flood Event): While some good information was shared, there were also highly tendentious headlines.
• Forest Fires This Summer: Similar to the flood event, tendentious headlines have been observed.
• Alleged "Bombalapa" for the President: A false report about a device to be placed on the president, which was not only untrue but the opposite of the truth.

Strategies for Combating Disinformation

The video offers practical advice on how to counter disinformation:

• Question the Source: When encountering a news item, ask:
  • Who is the journalist behind it?
  • What media outlet does it belong to?
  • What is their journalistic credibility?
  • Who shared it with me, and what interests might they have?
• Characteristics of Good News:
  • Provides broad context.
  • Presents different perspectives and versions of events.
  • Is corroborated by at least three sources (as taught in journalism faculties).
• Debunking False Beliefs:
  • Virality does not equal credibility: The number of shares is not a measure of truth.
  • Influencers are not journalists: Do not attribute the rigor of journalism to influencers and content creators.
• The Case of the Amateur Informer: The video illustrates how an individual sharing local photos can gain a large following and then begin spreading unverified information, which often garners more engagement than professionally reported news. This highlights the danger of speculation fueled by disinformation.
• Cultivating a Critical Mind:
  • Put everything in quarantine: Treat all incoming information with skepticism.
  • Seek multiple versions: Look at different journalists and media outlets, even those that don't align with your ideology.
  • Step out of your comfort zone: Unlearn prejudices and open your mind to different viewpoints.
  • Resist "infoxication": Avoid those who try to overwhelm and discourage critical thinking.

The Business of Disinformation and its Impact

• Ramón Reik's Perspective: The writer and journalist Ramón Reik states that disinformation is the worst hoax because it aims to "uniform consciences," and people accept it to avoid complications.
• Exploiting Ignorance: Disinformation creators profit from and indoctrinate individuals lacking information and cultural formation. These individuals not only accept but also internalize false information.
• The Challenge of Detection: While sharing or not sharing is simple, the tools used by disinformation are increasingly difficult to detect.

Signs of Hope and a Call to Action

Despite the challenges, there are positive indicators:

• Social Media Fatigue: Social media platforms are showing signs of exhaustion, with increasing numbers of people trusting them less. This is considered good news.
• Distinguishing Real from Fake: It is our role to discern between what is real and what is not.
• Avoiding Passive Consumption: We should not allow statistics to define us as passive or complacent minds.
• Proactive Engagement: We must be proactive in combating disinformation.

Conclusion: Disinformation as a Threat to Democracy

The video concludes by emphasizing the severe consequences of disinformation:

• Threat to Democracy: Disinformation is a clear threat to democratic systems.
• Polarization and Division: It polarizes, divides, and pits people against each other.
• Free Armies: It turns citizens into unpaid soldiers for power groups and political parties.

The final call to action is for a free, educated, informed, and, above all, critical society. The speaker urges everyone to verify information before sharing.