Author: loveyourzkai

False and Inaccurate Information on the Web

Have you ever paid attention to the number of pages there are when you scroll all the way to the bottom of the first page of search results? Some search engines even make the first blob of words on the screen when you search something “1-20 of 879,000 results,” for example. In a day and age where we have so much information literally at our fingertips, it can be hard to decipher what is correct and true to what isn’t among these hundreds of thousands of search results, especially when its easier than ever for anyone to upload to the web. Without any way to see who is posting what (a good bit of the time), we have no way of knowing or seeing who is behind a screen, knowing their intentions, or any certifications or qualifications they may or may not have. This is why your parents said, “don’t believe everything you see on the internet!” The American Psychological Association does a well job at further breaking down misinformation and disinformation in this article.

AI and Misinformation and Disinformation on the Web

It’s 2022 and your roommate just asked you if you’ve heard about that new artificial intelligence chat bot, “ChatGPT.” You look quite literally flabbergasted as she describes what it is and even pulls it up to show you on her phone in two seconds. Conveniently enough, you happen to be in the middle of writing a paper for class. You can’t wait to use this new tool to help you. You give it your paper prompt, ask it for some talking points, and hit enter. You’re surprised to see that most of what it gave you was…less than stellar.

It’s crucial to remember that AI tools do not “think” or have any real understanding (or however Professor Cartland said it), they generate responses by mimicking patterns from their training data. When a text AI like the ChatGPT I was using receives a prompt, it produces responses based on patterns found in similar texts, such as articles and web searches. While these responses may appear accurate, they can sometimes be false, outdated, or nonsensical, a phenomenon known as “hallucinations,” like the result it gave me that day. Good thing I fact checked!

Copilot Interaction

Me:

i have an assignment, heres the prompt: Write a post reflecting on the question "What is real on the internet?" Include a link to at least one online source that supports your take. Don't use any sources I shared or assigned. Use at least two sections divided by headings One section should talk about some reasons behind false and inaccurate information on the web the title i came up with for the assignment is "why the internet is two faced." could you give me some more title options please?

Copilot: Sure, I’d be happy to help! Here are some alternative title options for your assignment:

“The Dual Nature of the Internet: Truth and Deception”

“Navigating Reality in the Digital Age”

“The Internet’s Double-Edged Sword: Fact vs. Fiction”

“Unmasking the Internet: What’s Real and What’s Not”

“The Internet’s Mirage: Distinguishing Truth from Lies”

“Digital Realities: The Battle Between Fact and Fabrication”

“The Internet’s Illusions: Understanding Online Authenticity”

“Truth in the Web: Separating Reality from Deception”

“The Internet’s Facade: Exploring Online Truths and Falsehoods”

“Virtual Veracity: The Quest for Truth on the Internet”

Feel free to choose any of these or mix and match elements to create a title that best fits your vision for the assignment! If you need further assistance with the content, just let me know.

Me: these are so good! thank you so much

Copilot: You’re very welcome! I’m glad you liked them. If you need any more help with your assignment or anything else, feel free to ask. Good luck with your writing! 😊

Why this title?

Openness

Why?

The open web was and is a pioneering discovery of our time. It invented the ability to connect with anyone from anywhere at anytime and share anything- a truly remarkable creation! The openness of the internet allows us to share quite literally anything with everyone who has access to the web. Recipes, solutions to problems, event planning inspo, how-to’s, and the list could go on forever. The openness of content on the internet has created a certain kind of convenience that there has never been before.

How?

Much open web content is made possible through open-source software like GIMP or WordPress. Another example of open content would be blog groups like Reddit, where individuals are able to ask a question they have or state a problem they’re having and people can respond with answers and feedback to help (or just share chicken recipes). Take a look for yourself. Reddit chicken recipes thread.

Accessibility

Why?

To those who have never heard of ‘accessible’ content, it might be hard to understand what it is, and why or how it is made. In plain English, accessible content is going to be able to be viewed not just by people without disabilities, but also people with disabilities. Take someone who is deaf, for example, trying to watch a video without subtitles. That piece of content is inaccessible for them. Creating accessible content allows your content to reach a broader audience, giving you a greater chance of reaching whatever goal you have, and is just straight up the right thing to do, even if it creates an extra step and takes some extra time to do.

How?

There is no straight forward ‘how’ to make accessible content. It depends on things like what kind of content you’re making and what you’re trying to accomplish and it requires you to be considerate and think about how someone with disabilities may or may not be able to view your content. As Professor Cartland said, “Nothing is ever 100% accessible, or 100% open. But creators can make choices about what level to aspire to, and work to reach that goal.” Some common features of accessible content include things like alt text for photos, closed captions on videos, and choosing high contrast colors for word graphics.