Online Resources
Are Instagram Activism Resources Helpful Or Performative? (Bustle)
"It’s safe to assume that most people creating these types of visual resources are aiming to educate in an accessible way, hoping it will inspire others to do further reading, join progressive movements and make meaningful changes – which, in some cases, it achieves. But, it’s worth considering whether these cutesy infographics are also paving way for the commodification of Instagram activism."
How Social Justice Slideshows Took Over Instagram (Vox)
"PowerPoint activism is everywhere on Instagram. Why do these posts look so familiar? ... How do activism slideshows go viral on Instagram? By co-opting popular design aesthetics from brands."
How To Detect Bias In News Media (FAIR)
"Media have tremendous power in setting cultural guidelines and in shaping political discourse. It is essential that news media, along with other institutions, are challenged to be fair and accurate. The first step in challenging biased news coverage is documenting bias. Here are some questions to ask yourself about newspaper, TV and radio news."
Learning the Landscape of Digital Literacy (Teaching Tolerance)
"Digital literacy is more than the ability to identify misinformation or avoid bad guys online; it means being able to participate meaningfully in online communities, interpret the changing digital landscape, and unlock the power of the internet for good. Digital literacy, in the modern United States, is fundamental to civic literacy."
"Our research has identified three types of bias that make the social media ecosystem vulnerable to both intentional and accidental misinformation. That is why our Observatory on Social Media at Indiana University is building tools to help people become aware of these biases and protect themselves from outside influences designed to exploit them."
Resources on Yemen
To Share Or Not To Share
While following breaking news about very politicized topics, including the situation in Yemen, here are a few things to keep in mind
- Accuracy and speed are often in direct conflict with each other as information is shared. The first thing published might not be the most accurate.
- Bias check! Be mindful of the biases of your sources as well as your own biases. It's natural to seek out information that confirms preexisting ideas you have. Make sure you're applying the same rigorous information literacy lens to ALL news you read.
- Photos and videos can sometimes be misleading. Always trace media to its original source and get the full context (this is also called "going upstream").
- Read closely and look for corroboration from multiple sources!
- Know that everyone falls for "fake news" and misinformation sometimes, even smart people like you! If you discover something you shared isn't the full truth, or isn't true at all, fix your mistake and (gently) correct others' misconceptions.
- For more information, check out our "Fake News" vs Real News and Assessing Online Sources guides