We are living in a world of information overload. We are constantly being bombarded with a variety of false or misleading information that can carry many names and take different forms (e.g. fake news, misinformation, disinformation, propganada, clickbait, alternative facts, etc.). At the root of all of these terms and forms is the need to find objective truth. This is to say, the existence of facts and principles outside of personal opinions and biases.
An example of objective truth is that the freezing point of water is zero degrees Celsius. Even if someone believes that water will freeze at fifteen degrees Celsius (for the sake of this discussion), it will not actually freeze at that temperature.
This LibGuide will focus on disinformation, misinformation, propaganda, information laundering, fake news and the potential role of generative AI in all of these topics. It will also introduce some helpful strategies and fact-checking sites. However, with the current scale of false and misleading information, just fact-checking alone is not sufficient.
We must ask ourselves: How can arguments based in objective truth be compelling to someone else? In a "post-truth" society, objective truth does not cease to exist, but rather its importance to the public becomes diminished. Please watch below, Professor Kevin Currie-Knight's video, "Kierkegaard on Truth (Objective and Subjective)". This short video grapples with the topic of truth in terms of the work of Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard and the current state of modern education.
Librarians have traditionally been the gatekeepers of credible information and responsible for checking facts. However, with the scale of content available online, this role is evolving. In their 2020 article, De Paor and Heravi write, "As librarians can no longer compete with the masses of misinformation being circulated on a daily basis, their role is shifting from fact-checker to educator." This LibGuide aims to assist students with developing a skillset and the habit of mind to critically reflect upon and analyze the information they come across every day in any context.
