It’s happening more and more: You’re scrolling through your phone and suddenly see a photo or video and think, “This can’t be real.”
And yet, there it is, with hundreds of comments and shares, appearing quite authentic. Maybe you tell your friends about it. Maybe you share it on your social media channels.
All of that to then eventually learn that it wasn’t real at all.
Whether it’s Kate Middleton’s recently altered photo, or instances with much higher stakes, decoding what’s real and what’s not online is becoming more and more difficult.
To help us cut through the clutter and determine fact from fiction, Craig Silverman, verification expert with Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Journalism, has key tips.
“Using a few useful approaches and tools, and by adopting new ways of thinking, can help us navigate a complex news environment,” he said.
Tips
Below, learn how you can arm yourself against misinformation and disinformation, and to see how Silverman applies these techniques, check out the video above.
1. Be Patient
Firstly, Silverman says patience is crucial – don’t make quick assumptions upon encountering new information.
“Rushing to assume, to credit or point fingers can sometimes get news authorities into trouble,” said Silverman, noting that there are many examples where, after a story initially breaks, official information emerges proving that what was once claimed was only partially correct.
2. ‘Living in the grey’ – adopt a verification mindset
Having patience means it’s important to get comfortable “living in the grey.” Rumors and claims can spread quickly, but it takes time for the full facts to emerge. It’s important to recognize when things are still uncertain, and again, to be patient.
The key, Silverman says, is to adopt a “verification mindset.” This means prioritizing an assessment of evidence before making up your mind.
3. Don’t act on emotion
Adopting a “verification mindset” also means not acting on emotion – which can be difficult, especially in life or death situations.
Silverman says we naturally have an emotional relationship with information, but given the amount of false information online, we need to focus on patience, restraint and what has been proven to be factual.
4. Observational techniques
Silverman says news consumers can use observational techniques to help get a sense of whether a piece of content is authentic or not.
For instance, in the photo or video, are there street signs, logos, license plates or other details that align with the context of how the content has been presented? What language is being spoken? Is there a unique accent? Do the landmarks make sense? Are there other images or videos of the same thing, and does it align with the photo or video in question, and with the claims being made about it?
5. Be mindful of false contexts
Among the various examples of misinformation and disinformation, Silverman says false context is one of the biggest culprits.
False context occurs when genuine content is shared with false contextual information. For example, a photo from a previous event in Ottawa could be shared by someone with the claim that it was just taken in Toronto.
“Well-meaning people may share it with good intentions,” he said, noting that applying the techniques described above can help detect instances of false context.
6. Technical tools
While on the more technical side, one tool that can be quite useful is a reverse image search.
A reverse image search can help identify if a photo or video was originally published elsewhere, perhaps in a different location or on a different date.
“The where and the when are really important,” Silverman said.
“If you fine tune your observational skills and use things like reverse image search, you’ll be able to achieve a lot without a lot of technical expertise,” he added.
7. Look out for manipulated content
Manipulated content refers to situations when genuine information or imagery is manipulated to deceive the user, which is happening more and more with the surge in AI-usage.
Silverman says there are certain clues that can help indicate if the authenticity of an image or video has been compromised.
For instance, he says AI technology does a poor job depicting teeth, jewelry, hands and fingers.
‘Engine can get lazy’
As well, he notes, “Often, the engine can get lazy with people in the background, like, maybe you take a closer look and the person at the back has two heads.”
He also says that if a reverse image search for an image comes up completely empty, the absence of results is a clue that the item could be AI-generated.
To illustrate how Silverman’s tips and tricks can be applied, including how he debunks a fake image of the Pope and a video claiming to involve the Russia-Ukraine conflict, check out the video above, or read below.