👀 🗳 This election season, how to spot misinformation

Plus, up your media literacy skills

View this email online Atilgan Ozdil/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Hey everybody! Life Kit host Marielle Segarra here. This is my first newsletter. And yes, I just Googled “How to start a newsletter.” I landed on “Hey everybody” because “Greetings” sounded a liiiiittle too Martian-like to me.  I’ll get right to it.  It’s hard to know what to believe these days. That’s a common refrain I’ve heard over the past few years. Whether we're talking about politics or COVID or something else entirely, we’re being served a constant stream of information in the news, on social media, and from friends and family. It’s a lot to process, and the stakes are high.  It’s mid-October, which means we’re in election season. And before we vote, it’s important that we know what information is reliable and how to filter out the rest. (And here’s how to make sure you’re ready to vote on Election Day … or before!)  Miles Parks, who covers voting for NPR, says misinformation has become a big part of his beat, especially since former President Donald Trump spread lies about his 2020 election loss. “Election officials I talk to who run voting at the state and local level say a huge part of their time ⁠— you know, 10 or 20 years ago, they used to be spent on just counting ballots and getting ballots out to people ⁠— is now spent on trying to get the truth out to people around our voting systems.” In a recent episode of Life Kit, Miles and I talked about how to protect yourself from misinformation and what voters might encounter this year. One tip: pay attention to “gray area” misinfo. This is when somebody shares a factual news story or a true data point or an actual photo but uses it out of context to support a false claim.  “Be on the lookout when you're scrolling or you're reading and you see a piece of information that just fits so neatly into your worldview, and it makes you angry,” says Miles. “We know that people are less critically inclined to think about the information they're receiving when those strong emotions come in. And so people who are making money off of getting clicks and polarizing the American electorate try to get you upset, try to get you angry.” So if you’re feeling emotionally-charged, take that as an indication that you should double check that tweet or post before you share it with others.  🎧 Learn more about separating fact from fiction this election season Newsletter continues after sponsor message If you’re looking for more ideas about how to deal with the onslaught of misinformation we all face, here are some tips from a 2019 Life Kit episode Miles hosted: 🤔 Exercise skepticism Take in any new information — whether it's the news or on social media or from a buddy at happy hour — with a bit of doubt. Expect the source to prove their work and show how they came to their conclusion. And try to compare information from a number of different outlets, even if you have a favorite. 🔎 Investigate what you're reading or seeing  What does that skepticism look like in practice? It means asking some questions of what you're reading or seeing: Is the content paid for by a company or politician or other potentially-biased source? Do they present solid evidence? Are statistics presented in context?    📵 Limit your time on social media Misinformation, as a concept, isn't new. But the social media platforms for engaging with it are constantly changing and increasing their influence in the media world. Those platforms have no financial obligation to tell the truth — their business models depend on user engagement. Reducing your dependence on social media will be good for your news judgment (and your sleep). 📢 Don’t lecture and don’t yell It's important to value the truth, but correcting people is always delicate. If someone in your life is spreading objective falsehoods and you want to help, be humble. Don't assume bad intentions or stupidity, just meet the other person where they are and be curious — think about opening with common ground and a question. Try to have the conversation in person or at least in a private online setting, like an email. Facebook comments can be a tough place to have real dialogue. Up your media literacy skills with more tips from this episode. Above all, remember to treat people with kindness and respect. Sometimes, people spread misinformation accidentally. You may have even done that yourself. I mean, raise your hand if you’ve ever shared a funny meme or tweet with a friend without thinking and then realized it wasn’t actually true. 🙌  All I’m saying is, don’t go throwing stones if you live in a glass house. And always check your sources.    Happy Fall, everybody.    – Marielle Segarra, Life Kit host Access Sponsor-Free Episodes Want to support our show? Try a subscription to Life Kit+ and get all the tips and tricks you love sponsor-free! Learn more at plus.npr.org/lifekit.  Learn More   Watch this space for more from Life Kit. Next week, we'll have episodes on:  💸 Student loans 🌅 Waking up early 🎃 Planning a theme party  We love hearing from you. And we *love* hearing your random life tips. If you have a hack you'd like to share, send us a note at lifekit@npr.org or leave us a voicemail with a greeting, your name, phone number and your tip at 202.216.9823.   Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: LifeKit@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Life Kit emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy