Author: Kimberly Frisbee

As Professor Cartland accurately stated in the beginning of this module, the way we find and communicate information on the web lies on a spectrum of truth. So how is a person to know whether the information we’re reading online is factual or merely a ruse to keep us locked in a cycle of doubt and uncertainty? My personal belief is to take everything I read online with a grain of salt, and do my own due diligence when it comes to matters that are important to me. I fact-check everything! But then again, maybe this is due to me having serious trust issues…

What is “Truth” Anyway?

Advertisements exaggerate the benefits of a specific item or service in order to grab the attention of consumers while headlines use clickbait titles to entice readers to follow their coverage of a particular news story over that of their competitors. While these examples aren’t directly harmful to the reader or consumer, there are other facets of the web that use the stretching of truth to manipulate the public for their own personal agendas. As explained in an article on the National Library of Medicine’s website titled, “Why do people spread false information online?”, there is a difference between misinformation, which is when people share information they don’t know to be false; and disinformation, where information is created and shared with the deliberate intention of provoking the public to react in a certain way in order to incite violence or cause harm to opposing factors, or as way to personally profit or benefit from the dissemination of the false information, either financially or politically.

The problem is that sometimes good people can be motivated to do bad things because they are blinded by misguided intentions, quite often misled by others with less scrupulous objectives. With little computer knowhow, someone can easily spread untruths in a matter of minutes with the help of social media and users biting at the bit to find proof that their way of thinking is validated. And really, that’s what it all comes down to – a sense of acceptance and validation of personal views and beliefs. A lie is just a lie if no one wants to believe it’s true, and it will die as quickly as it was born. However, for the person desperately seeking justification for their actions or approval of their (usually unpopular) opinions, a lie can spread like wildfire in a barren forest of other users seeking the same kind of validation.

As I mentioned earlier, there are a myriad of reasons why a person may knowingly share something untrue on the internet. Since the truth can be seen as a spectrum of relative accountability, where does someone draw the line between good marketing and downright lies? I believe the answer to that lies within the person’s intention, though you know what they say about those…

Where Do They Come Up With This Stuff??

Whatever the reasoning behind the spread of false information may be, whether it be intentional deception or unknowing ignorance, the outcome of such propagation has become a serious problem nationally and world-wide, as people turn to social media and online news outlets to guide their decision-making processes. It’s just too easy to take the word of a friend on social media or read the headlines of a shared article rather than do the work yourself and come up with your own answers and understanding of the situation. And even if you do take the initiative to look for the information yourself, can you trust the answers you find? A quick query into a search engine’s text box can populate a thousand different answers to your question, some of them might even be trustworthy. With AI seeping into every aspect of our lives, it’s easy to fall victim to complacency, especially if you are not well versed in the subject matter to discern any differently. That’s where AI is a blessing and a curse. It can make a task easier by providing quick tips and tricks to something you already knew something about [blessing] or provide hugely inaccurate information provided through unreliable sources at best, or at worst, shady conspiracy channels with evil intent.

Which again leads me to the matter of “intent” – the road to hell may be paved with good intentions, but it seems like the digital highway is just as tricky to navigate. I believe that if you go looking for bad, that’s all you will find; look for the good, and you’ll start to see more and more of it wherever you go.

AI: Help or Hindrance?

I’m not sure exactly how my interaction with Copilot ties in to the rest of this article, if it does at all, but here is my exchange with AI regarding the title of this op-ed.

Sent by you:
Take the internet with a grain of salt
Copilot
Sent by Copilot:
Certainly! The phrase “take it with a grain of salt” means to view information skeptically or with doubt, understanding that it may not be entirely accurate or reliable1. When someone uses this expression, they are suggesting that the information provided may not be entirely credible and therefore should be received with reservation2. The idea behind this saying is to accept a statement while maintaining a degree of skepticism about its truth3. It’s like adding a pinch of skepticism to what you encounter online, just as you might add a grain of salt to food for better digestion34. So, next time you come across something on the internet, remember to take it with a grain of salt! 😉🌐
Learn more
1 grammarist.com2 quillbot.com3 phrases.org.uk4 mentalfloss.com5 bing.com6 en.wiktionary.org+2 more
You
Sent by you:
What is another way of saying that?
Copilot
Sent by Copilot:
Certainly! Another way to express the same idea is to say “take it with a pinch of salt.” This phrase is often used interchangeably with “take it with a grain of salt” and conveys the same sense of skepticism or caution when evaluating information. So, whether you use a grain or a pinch, the message remains clear: approach information online with a healthy dose of skepticism! 😉🌐
You
Sent by you:
what is another way of saying "Be sceptical about what you read online?"
Copilot
Sent by Copilot:
Certainly! Another way to express the idea of being skeptical about what you read online is to use the word “doubtful”. So, you could say, “Approach online information with a doubtful mindset.” Remember, it’s essential to critically evaluate the information we encounter on the internet! 🌐❓
Learn more
1 bing.com2 thesaurus.com3 powerthesaurus.org4 wordhippo.com5 wordhippo.com6 oxforddictionaries.com+3 more
You
Sent by you:
more ideas
Copilot
Sent by Copilot:
Certainly! Here are a few more ways to express the concept of being skeptical about what you read online:
1.	Exercise Caution: When encountering information on the internet, it’s essential to exercise caution and verify its accuracy.
2.	Approach with Suspicion: Approach online content with a healthy dose of suspicion, especially when it lacks credible sources.
3.	Be Wary: Be wary of information found online, as not everything is reliable or accurate.
4.	Take Claims with a Grain of Salt: Just like seasoning food, take online claims with a grain of salt—meaning, maintain a degree of skepticism.
5.	Question Everything: Adopt a mindset of questioning everything you come across online to separate fact from fiction.
Remember, critical thinking is key when navigating the vast sea of information on the internet! 🌐❓
You
Sent by you:
"Question Everything: Adopt a mindset of questioning everything you come across online to separate fact from fiction." More like this please
Copilot
Sent by Copilot:
Certainly! Here are some additional ways to encourage a critical mindset when navigating online information:
1.	Scrutinize Sources: Scrutinize the sources of information. Ask yourself: Is this from a reputable website or individual? Are there credible references or citations?
2.	Verify Facts: Verify facts independently. Don’t take claims at face value. Use reliable fact-checking websites or cross-reference information from multiple sources.
3.	Consider Bias: Be aware of bias. Every source has a perspective. Consider who benefits from the information and whether it’s presented objectively.
4.	Evaluate Expertise: Assess the expertise of the author or organization. Are they qualified in the field they’re discussing?
5.	Spot Misinformation: Be on the lookout for misinformation. False information spreads easily online. Verify before sharing.
6.	Check Dates: Always check the publication date. Information can become outdated or irrelevant.
Remember, a curious and discerning mindset helps separate truth from fiction in the vast digital landscape! 🌐❓
You
Sent by you:
I'm writing an article based on this concept; can you give me a tantilizing title?
Copilot
Sent by Copilot:
Certainly! Here’s a tantalizing title for your article on critical thinking and skepticism in the digital age:
“Unmasking the Web: Navigating Truth in a Sea of Fiction”
Feel free to tweak it to your liking, and happy writing! 🌐🔍📝
You
Sent by you:
I like that! Can you make it tie in to cooking somehow?
Copilot
Sent by Copilot:
Certainly! Here’s a tantalizing title that combines the concept of critical thinking with the world of cooking:
“Seasoning the Truth: Navigating Online Recipes with a Pinch of Skepticism”
In this article, we’ll explore how critical thinking is like adding just the right amount of seasoning to your culinary adventures—essential for separating fact from fiction in the vast digital kitchen! 🌐🔍🍽️
You
Sent by you:
PERFECT!
Copilot
Sent by Copilot:
I’m delighted you liked it! If you need any more assistance or have further requests, feel free to ask. Happy writing, and may your culinary adventures be seasoned with wisdom! 🌐🔍🍽️✨

As you can see, it took several tries and different strategies to get Copilot to first understand what I was looking for, and then to come up with something that might gain a viewers attention but also fit my desired narrative. And ultimately, that is exactly how misinformation and false news is spread. All it takes is one person to put a little fire under the belly of the beast, and one hungry soul, looking to fatten the masses, to take the bait.

Also, if you can’t tell, I really like food and food analogies… 🤷‍♀️

Postscript: I had to include these AI generated images because they have absolutely nothing to do with my article, yet apparently Copilot thought they did, which just proves that AI isn’t perfect…but also AWWWWW!!!!

Essentially, the question is not “Who is the internet for?”, but rather “How is the internet for everyone?” There are two concepts that answer this question – Openness and Accessibility.

Openness

When we speak about the internet, we are usually referring to the “open web”. This concept of “openness” in terms of our digital world is what allows people from all walks of life, from all over the world to work together, collaborate, or access content and build upon what others have already put out there. This “freedom”, if you will, has tremendous influence on people across the globe!

Why?

Openness in regards to the internet is not a black or white, on or off, kind of thing; openness lies more on a spectrum and is completely up to the content’s creator and developer on how much, if any, they wish to publish online. There are many benefits, however, of creating open-source digital work, including (but not limited to): accountability of content quality; community of reviewers to assist or fix any errors you may have missed; as well as the moral aspect of helping others grow in their own digital ventures. Economically speaking, it is also a more cost effective alternative to publish your content openly, versus copywriting.

How?

Most of the content we access every day is available to us because of the open web. The internet is built to share information, and it would not be the lifeline utility it is today without people freely publishing and accessing content. We utilize the openness of the internet every time we open Google to ask “How do I…”, or “What is…”, or my favourite and common search query, “Is [insert issue here] normal??”. It’s this freedom to search and publish our own experiences and problems that help so many of us immeasurably in terms of saving time and money. For example, for this assignment, we were asked to find an image online and use alt text with it. Unless the image you decide to post is one of your own personal creations, posting something online without proper licensing can get you into trouble. Thankfully, there are websites that provide thousands of images that you can use for your own publishing needs, without having to pay to use them. I chose to get the image for this blog post from Pexels.com, which offers a large selection of free stock photos and royalty free images.

But having open content on the internet does more than satisfy our curiosity or help us with our D.I.Y. projects. Being able to search for and find groups of like-minded individuals who have gone through, or who are currently experiencing, issues you thought you were alone in has such an understated value in today’s world. There’s a home for everyone out there: from trauma survivors, addicts in recovery, to children of neglectful multi-millionaires, and beyond! Personally, I see the benefits of all the open information out there, as well as the potential for abuse, astonishing!

Accessibility

Accessibility is the practice of making your websites or digital content usable by as many people as possible; this includes those using mobile devices or screen readers, those with slow network connections, as well as individuals with disabilities or physical limitations. Accessibility ensures a better user experience for all visitors of all ages on all devices.

Why?

There are countless reasons to make your online content accessible! However, for the purpose of answering this specific question, there are four main reasons to create accessible and inclusive content online: moral, legal, business, and curb-effect.

• Moral reasoning behind creating accessible content online pretty much speaks for itself – it’s just the right thing to do. If you were to think about in terms of Golden Rule mentality, or as I like to teach my 6 year old, “How would you like it if…”, it’s just human decency to create things that everyone can enjoy, not just for those who are just like you, or have what you have. Along with the willingness to create open content online, having accessible content is what fuels progress and growth exponentially in my opinion.
• The legal reasons behind making your content more accessible online has less to do with moral character or empathy, and more in line with the desire to avoid lawsuits and not get sued. While this may seem petty for some, it can be a real motivator for companies and content creators who fail to adhere to the needs of the wider consumer and whom then have to deal with public outcry and legal consequences.
• Businesses benefit from adhering to accessibility guidelines in two ways: the first is they avoid costly lawsuits as mentioned above; but they also have the benfit of reaching a greater audience of consumers by making their content accessible to everyone. By allowing your content to be fully accessible by people with differing device capabilities, network speed, physical or cognitive limitations, etc., you’re also allowing your product or content to be purchased or shared by more people too.
• Curb-effect is slightly different as it isn’t exactly a benefit specific to alternative audiences, but it still an important concept when discussing accessibilty. Curb effect is the idea that accessibility tools or utilities help audiences beyond those of the intended group, for example, closed captioning, alternative texts, etc. Personally, if a video does not have a written transcript available published alongside it, I will look elsewhere for a similar video that does. This is necessary for me because of my neurological disorder, but it is also useful for someone who simply prefers reading the content rather than sit through and watch a whole TED talk.

How?

Accessibility, like openness, is a layered concept that is ultimately up to its creator to implement; and there are many ways to make your digital content more accessible to the masses. However, there are some basic guidelines that everyone can put into practice right now, that can benefit everyone moving forward. These include using alt text with your images to describe the information that the image is meant to portray; creating descriptive text for your hyperlinks that tell the viewer where the link will take them; and creating content with contrasting fonts and colours ensures your content is both visually appealing and accessible for those with who are visually impaired.

The bottom line is that prioritizing openness and accessibility in your digital content benefits everyone, including the creator. The time it takes to implement is miniscule compared to the lives it benefits.