Red
A biased interpretation of an event.
Spin
The situation surrounding an event.
Context
In social media, the rules, signals and data that govern the platform's operation. This determines how content is filtered, ranked, selected and recommended to users.
Algorithm
A human being (as opposed to a bot) that antagonizes users and spreads disinformation for various purposes.
A tendency or opinion for or against a particular thing, often based on prejudice.
Bias
The impact of desire on beliefs (We believe what we want to believe).
Confirmation Bias
Material that was created later by someone who did not experience first-hand or participate in an event or condition.
Secondary Source
Online material created to draw traffic to a website rather than inform an audience.
Clickbait
The original document, recording, or photograph created when an event or condition was experienced.
Primary Source
The state of being impartial, of not supporting either side.
Neutrality
The use of irony, sarcasm, and/or ridicule in exposing or denouncing the actions or vices of others, particularly politicians.
Satire
The activity of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news and information. The purpose of this is to provide people with the information they need to make the best possible decisions about their lives, their communities, their societies, and their governments.
Journalism
The trustworthiness of a source.
Reliability
Content (i.e., articles) that look like the format of the site but are actually marketing materials.
Sponsored Content
News outlets that both reflect and influence the opinions of a large number of people.
Mainstream Media
The process of assessing the accuracy or validity of something.
Verification
Sponsored content that looks like news (e.g., television infomercials disguised as interviews or talk shows.)
Native Ad
This type of improper sharing of information is getting the facts of an event or situation wrong. It is often spread by people who do not do enough research but is usually unintentional.
Misinformation
The quality of being trustworthy.
Credibility
This type of information is created and/or spread in order to mislead people. This is an intentional attempt to manipulate audiences.
Disinformation
A media outlet that disseminates information that is significantly different from mainstream views.
Fringe Source
Research via backtracking to find the original source of information.
Going Upstream
Investigation of information to make sure it is accurate and trustworthy.
Vetting
Machine learning technology that manipulates or fabricates audio and/or video recordings to show people doing or saying things that they never did or said.
Deep Fake
Investigation of sources, specifically publishers, to determine motives.
Lateral Reading