Microsoft's media literacy program aims to empower internet users and combat online misinformation
WASHINGTON (AP) — Microsoft, in collaboration with the Trust Project, a nonprofit consortium of news organizations, has launched a media literacy initiative acknowledging the public's desire for accurate and trustworthy information online. The project aims to assist individuals in locating reliable sources by providing them with valuable guidance.
To achieve this, Microsoft and the Trust Project have created advertisements that direct internet users to a compilation of eight "trust indicators" designed to evaluate a website's credibility. These indicators encompass features such as clearly labelling opinion pieces, adhering to a code of practices, and providing proper source attribution.
Encouragingly, the majority of individuals who were exposed to the trust indicators expressed increased confidence in their own ability to identify trustworthy news and identify misinformation. This finding suggests that media literacy can serve as an effective, cost-efficient, and scalable solution to combat the pervasive issue of online misinformation.
“This was a bit of an experiment for us,” said Ginny Badanes, senior director of Microsoft's Democracy Forward Initiative, a unit at the company that focuses on efforts to strengthen democracy and online journalism. "The world is changing very quickly and people need tools to equip themselves.”
The consequences are significant. Social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube have faced criticism for their role in promoting political polarization, eroding trust in democratic institutions, and fueling movements against vaccines, election results, and even violent extremism.
The internet's speed and influence can make combating online misinformation appear to be an insurmountable challenge. While fact-checking by journalists has proven effective, it requires significant effort, may not reach everyone, and often fails to convince individuals who already distrust traditional news sources. Content moderation by tech companies is frequently inconsistent and can inadvertently drive misinformation to other platforms, leading to accusations of censorship and bias. Regulating the internet poses legal and political complexities.
However, initiatives aimed at fostering critical thinking and media literacy have demonstrated remarkable success in empowering individuals to identify misinformation on their own. For instance, Google launched a series of educational videos on YouTube in Eastern Europe last year to help people understand the mechanics of misinformation, and this campaign has recently expanded to include Germany.