Elections PEI encourages Islanders to take a closer look at the information they encounter online, especially on social media during an election period. Although many people are aware of satire, misinformation, and so-called “fake news,” it can sometimes be difficult to separate reliable information from content that is misleading or inaccurate.
This webpage has information and reminders for you to check and verify items you see on-line, especially election related news.
Images used in this post were AI generated, to reinforce the purpose of this post and further illustrate how realistic AI-generated content can be used to influence public perception. All AI generated images were approved by Elections PEI for educational purposes
Check the Source before you Share!
How to Spot Misleading or False Information
No one wants to discover they have been misled or that they have unintentionally shared information that isn’t true. If something
you see online seems surprising, sensational, or simply too unbelievable, take a moment to check it before passing it along.
Before clicking Share, pause and look a little closer.
Consider the Source
Ask yourself where the information is coming from.
Is it published by a recognized news organization or another source you know and trust? Take a look around the website. Check the About Us or Contact Us pages and see whether the organization provides clear information about who they are and how they can be reached.
A professional website will often provide identifiable staff, contact information, and a physical or business address. Be cautious when a site provides very little information about itself or relies only on free email services such as Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo—especially when other signs of credibility are missing.
Read More Than the Headline
Headlines are designed to attract your attention, but they rarely tell the whole story.
Before reacting or sharing, read the full article. Sometimes misleading information or satire becomes obvious once you look beyond the headline. Pay attention to exaggerated claims, unusual quotes, made-up names, or details that seem intentionally humorous.
DOG PICKS WINNER EVERYTIME
One Island voter claims he lets his Golden Retriever "Goldie" vote for him. She has chosen the winner in his district for the last 2 elections.Goldie seems to have a knack for picking the right paw-litician and loves a good tail of triumph.
Check the Evidence
Reliable news stories generally provide information that can be independently verified.
Look at the sources, studies, documents, experts, or organizations mentioned in the article. Do they actually support what the story claims?
Misleading stories may refer to sources that do not exist, use information out of context, or link to legitimate sources that have little or nothing to do with the claim being made.
Be Aware of Your Own Bias
We are naturally more likely to believe information that agrees with our existing opinions. This is sometimes called confirmation bias.
Even when a story supports something you already believe, it is still worth checking. Ask yourself whether you would judge the informationthe same way if it supported the opposite point of view. You can also look at other stories published by the same website. Do they appear balanced and credible, or are they consistently sensational or one-sided?
Could It Be Satire?
Some websites publish exaggerated or fictional stories for humour or entertainment. Satirical websites will often identify themselves, although this may not always be obvious. If most of the stories seem outrageous, deliberately over-the-top, or humorous, the content may be satire rather than factual reporting.
Check the Author
Is the author identified? Can you find other articles they have written? Does the name appear to belong to a real journalist or contributor?
Missing bylines, questionable author names, or authors with no apparent history can be warning signs that deserve a closer look.
Check the Date
Not all misleading information is completely false. Sometimes an old, legitimate story is shared again as though it happened recently. Always check the publication date and make sure the information is still current and being presented in the proper context.
A real story from several years ago can become misleading when it is shared as if it happened today.
Before You Share
When something catches your attention online, especially during an election, take a few extra moments to:
- Check who published it.
- Read the entire story.
- Look for reliable supporting sources.
- Consider whether your own opinions may be influencing your judgment.
- Determine whether the content is satire.
- Check the author.
- Confirm the publication date.
A little checking can go a long way toward preventing inaccurate or misleading information from spreading.
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