This is how we tackle the spread of misinformation and manipulation on social media

Trust in all types of media is at an all time low. People are turning to alternate sources of information (for better or worse – sometimes much worse), because they know what they’re being told (and sold) by mainstream media is often not being reported for our best interest, or for our benefit, or from a place of wanting to make the world a better place.

We have fact checkers now that tell us what’s real and what’s not, but who’s checking the fact checkers? Who’s paying their salary?

I’m not going to try to uncover who they are. I don’t have time. I’m an independent blogger.

But here’s an idea for a way to make it easier for us to make informed decisions and ensure we’re not being lied to:

Full financial transparency

If there’s a financial conflict of interest, we should be aware of it without having to dig or find out about it months or years later.

I suggest an API be developed that puts a little dollar sign you can click on in the corner of every piece of news that leads you to an interactive infographic of everyone that has financial ties to that piece.

Follow the money

I hear it time and time again. Those with money and power will use it to spin the narrative in their favour and it’s up to us to see who’s behind the curtain.

This isn’t going to change. So we have to build systems to protect ourselves. Whether we have to create new laws around transparency (which is obviously not in the governments best interest so good luck with that), or build it into the tech we use, something needs to change.

When you’re making money from the dissemination of information to the masses, you have a responsibility. You’re affecting peoples feelings, thoughts, and actions and if you have financial ties to a giant pharmaceutical company or a political party we need to know, and it needs to be obvious.

To be honest, it often IS obvious to me who’s funding what these days. But many are easily manipulated.

The Ground News app (an app that tells you what side of the political spectrum a piece of news is coming from) has taken a very big step in the right direction. We just need more! More of that! I would love to see that integrated into all social networks with the added financial component.

Lastly, we could do better to educate children from a young age to spot spin tactics, sales tactics, and emotional and intellectual manipulation.

My background is in advertising / communications. I essentially use words and images to manipulate people for a living. I know the process that goes on behind the scenes of any given piece of content. I can spot when someone is trying to manipulate me more easily than those without a background in communications.

I think it would be great if everyone was given the same education in bullshitting that I’ve gotten.

So with some systems put in place to give financial transparency, and an education in spin tactics, then perhaps, after a time, things could improve.

I can’t help but think those with money and power are always going to find a way to influence us or bend the rules in their favour, regardless of what road blocks we put up. But wouldn’t it be great if we actively worked to always stay one step ahead of them?

Many of course are trying. Great! But is it enough? This is me trying to add to the conversation.

Financial transparency.

Bullshit training.

Simple ideas. But not simple to execute.

In the meantime, let’s keep talking about. It all matters. Please share and discuss.