English Learning: Disinformation on Social Media
Dialogue
Alice: Hey, Bob, you look like you’ve seen a ghost… or maybe just a particularly shocking conspiracy theory?
Bob: Alice! You wouldn’t believe what I just read on ‘Ancient Alien Reptilian News’! Apparently, all pigeons are government surveillance drones disguised with feathers.
Alice: (Raises an eyebrow) Pigeons are *what* now? Bob, please tell me you’re not actually falling for that kind of disinformation again.
Bob: But it had a really convincing GIF! And the comments section was full of people agreeing! It must be true!
Alice: Ah, the classic echo chamber. Just because everyone *else* believes the moon is made of artisanal cheese doesn’t make it a dairy product, my friend.
Bob: So you’re saying my ‘pet’ pigeon, Percy, isn’t secretly reporting my snack habits to the authorities? My whole world is crumbling!
Alice: I’m saying Percy is probably more interested in your snack habits than the authorities are. Social media is rampant with this stuff. It’s hard to tell what’s legitimate anymore.
Bob: Exactly! One minute I’m learning about a new pancake recipe, the next I’m convinced Bigfoot is running a global laundromat cartel. It’s a rollercoaster of truthiness!
Alice: “Truthiness” is a good word for it. It feels true, but often isn’t. You’ve got to be more discerning, Bob. Check your sources.
Bob: But checking sources takes *effort*. And usually, the craziest stuff gets the most shares! It’s like a magnet for my curiosity.
Alice: That’s how disinformation spreads like wildfire. Sensational headlines, emotional appeals… they bypass critical thinking.
Bob: So, next time I see a post claiming dogs can fly if you give them enough belly rubs, I should… verify it?
Alice: Ideally, yes! Or at least question it. Think: “Is this plausible? What’s the source? Are they trying to provoke a strong reaction?”
Bob: Hmm, good point. Maybe I should start fact-checking before I accidentally try to teach Percy to fly. He’s already judging my dance moves enough as it is.
Alice: Exactly! Now, about that Bigfoot laundromat… tell me more. I’m strangely intrigued.
Current Situation
Disinformation, often used interchangeably with “fake news,” refers to false information deliberately created and spread to deceive or mislead people. In the age of social media, its spread has become a significant global challenge. Platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok, while connecting billions, also serve as fertile ground for disinformation to flourish.
Algorithms often prioritize engaging and emotionally charged content, which disinformation frequently is, leading to its rapid and widespread dissemination. This can create “echo chambers” where individuals are primarily exposed to information that confirms their existing beliefs, making it harder to discern truth from falsehood. The consequences are far-reaching, impacting public health (e.g., vaccine misinformation), democratic processes (e.g., election interference), and societal cohesion (e.g., promoting division and distrust).
Combating disinformation requires a multi-faceted approach, including improved media literacy among users, more robust fact-checking initiatives by platforms and independent organizations, and critical thinking skills to question sources and content. Despite ongoing efforts, the battle against disinformation remains a constant and evolving challenge.
Key Phrases
- Disinformation: False information that is spread intentionally to deceive people. Example: The government launched a campaign to combat disinformation about the election results.
- Falling for (something): To be tricked into believing something that is not true. Example: Don’t fall for every clickbait headline you see online.
- Echo chamber: An environment where a person encounters only beliefs or opinions that coincide with their own, so that their existing views are reinforced and alternative ideas are not considered. Example: Social media algorithms often create an echo chamber, showing you only content you’re likely to agree with.
- Rampant with (something): Existing or spreading unchecked and widely, often used for something undesirable. Example: The internet is rampant with conspiracy theories these days.
- Legitimate: Conforming to rules or laws; able to be defended with logic or justification; genuine. Example: It’s hard to tell what’s legitimate news and what’s fake.
- Truthiness: The quality of seeming or being felt to be true, even if not necessarily true according to facts or evidence (coined by Stephen Colbert). Example: Many online posts rely on truthiness rather than verified facts.
- Discerning: Having or showing good judgment. Example: A discerning reader always checks the source of information.
- Spread like wildfire: To spread very quickly. Example: The viral video spread like wildfire across all social media platforms.
- Bypass critical thinking: To avoid or go around the process of analyzing and evaluating information objectively. Example: Emotional headlines often bypass critical thinking and lead to impulsive shares.
- Fact-checking / Verify: The act of checking the facts in an article, report, etc., to make sure they are correct. / To make sure that something is true or accurate. Example: It’s crucial to fact-check information before sharing it, especially in an age of disinformation. / Always verify suspicious claims with reliable sources.
- Plausible: (Of an argument or statement) seeming reasonable or probable. Example: While interesting, the story isn’t very plausible without more evidence.
Grammar Points
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Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and a preposition or adverb (or both) that create a new meaning. They are very common in spoken English.
- Fall for (something): To be tricked or deceived by something. Example: He fell for the old “Nigerian Prince” email scam.
- Tell (something) apart: To be able to distinguish between two or more similar things. While not explicitly in the dialogue, Alice implies this difficulty when she says, “It’s hard to tell what’s legitimate anymore.” Example: It’s hard to tell the real news apart from the fake.
- Spread like wildfire: To spread very quickly and extensively. Example: News of the concert tickets selling out spread like wildfire.
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Modal Verbs for Advice and Possibility
Modal verbs like “should,” “must,” “can,” and “could” are used to express advice, obligation, possibility, or ability. They are always followed by the base form of another verb.
- Should: Used for advice or recommendation. Example: You should always fact-check before sharing.
- Must: Used for strong obligation or necessity. Example: We must be vigilant against disinformation.
- Can/Could: Used for possibility or ability. “Could” is often a more polite or tentative version of “can.” Example: It can be difficult to identify fake accounts. / Such claims could lead to serious misunderstandings.
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Adjectives Ending in -ing and -ed
These adjectives are often derived from verbs and describe different aspects:
- -ing adjectives (e.g., shocking, convincing, intriguing): Describe the thing or person that *causes* the feeling or state. Example: The news was very shocking. (The news *caused* the shock.) / He gave a very convincing argument.
- -ed adjectives (e.g., shocked, convinced, intrigued): Describe the person or thing that *experiences* the feeling or state. Example: I was shocked by the news. (I *experienced* the shock.) / Bob was convinced by the GIF. / Alice was intrigued by the story.
Practice Exercises
- Fill in the blanks with the correct key phrase from the list (disinformation, fall for, echo chamber, legitimate, discerning, spread like wildfire):
- Be careful not to _______ every sensational story you see online.
Answer: fall for
- The politician was accused of spreading _______ about his opponent.
Answer: disinformation
- In an _______, people rarely encounter opposing viewpoints.
Answer: echo chamber
- The viral video _______ across all social media platforms within hours.
Answer: spread like wildfire
- It’s hard to find _______ news sources on certain topics these days.
Answer: legitimate
- A truly _______ journalist always checks multiple sources.
Answer: discerning
- Be careful not to _______ every sensational story you see online.
- Choose the best modal verb (should, must, can’t, could) to complete each sentence:
- You _______ always question information that seems too good (or bad) to be true.
Answer: should / must
- It _______ be challenging to identify fake images, but there are tools to help.
Answer: can
- You _______ believe everything you read on unverified social media accounts.
Answer: can’t
- Such a shocking claim _______ potentially cause widespread panic.
Answer: could
- You _______ always question information that seems too good (or bad) to be true.
- Complete the sentences using the correct -ing or -ed adjective form of the verb in parentheses:
- The conspiracy theory was quite _______, so many people shared it. (intrigue)
Answer: intriguing
- I was completely _______ by his detailed explanation. (convince)
Answer: convinced
- The sudden announcement about the alien invasion was truly _______. (shock)
Answer: shocking
- She found the article very _______ and thought-provoking. (stimulate)
Answer: stimulating
- The conspiracy theory was quite _______, so many people shared it. (intrigue)
- Answer the following comprehension questions based on the dialogue:
- What absurd claim did Bob initially believe about pigeons?
Answer: He believed that all pigeons are government surveillance drones disguised with feathers.
- According to Alice, what is an “echo chamber”?
Answer: An echo chamber is when you are surrounded by people who believe the same things, reinforcing those beliefs, even if they aren’t true.
- What three questions does Alice suggest Bob ask himself when encountering suspicious posts?
Answer: “Is this plausible? What’s the source? Are they trying to provoke a strong reaction?”
- What absurd claim did Bob initially believe about pigeons?
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