An online game that allows people to deploy Twitter bots, photo-shop evidence and incite conspiracy theories has proven effective at raising their awareness of "fake news", a study from the University of Cambridge has found. Results from the study of 15,000 users of the "Bad News" game, launched last year by the university's Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab (CDSMLab), showed it was possible to train the public to be better at spotting propaganda. "Research suggests that fake news spreads faster and deeper than the truth, so combatting disinformation after the fact can be like fighting a losing battle," said Sander van der Linden, the CDSMLab's director. Facebook has invested in prevention of the spread of fake news and Russia has been accused of spreading false information to influence elections. Russia has denied any such actions. Read also: How brain receives fake news subject of focus at Big Question Forum The study, published in the journal Palgrave Communications on Tuesday, … [Read more...] about Online game helps fight the spread of fake news: Study
How to spot fake news
Teach your children well – about fake news
Statistics are showing that Finland’s patient and comprehensive campaign to halt the spread of fake news is starting to see positive results. A key element of the strategy is education – teaching young students to be alert to falsities they encounter online, to be wary of what’s presented as fact and to be resourceful about verifying information. Other countries are paying attention to the effort, but finding that, so far, there’s still only a glimmer of hope, and even that didn’t appear overnight. Finnish students have been learning about methods employed to deceive users of social media, about how easily pictorial imagery can be manipulated, about half-truths, faked user-profiles and how intimidation comes into play. The more astute among them will be understanding important life lessons – that there is a dark side to society and that there are ways to overcome it with honesty and optimism. The students are shown how to identify bots and … [Read more...] about Teach your children well – about fake news
No-frills Mar/Dangerous tally
They say age brings wisdom, and in the case of newly minted senior citizen Mar Roxas, it shows. It’s good to see a “new” Roxas emerging from his retirement to run again for the Senate in the upcoming midterm elections. While Roxas was not completely gone from the public eye (he shared his mountain climbing and camping adventures via his Facebook page) I was surprised to see a lighter and airier Roxas, especially his grinning from ear to ear as he and Korina are pictured with their twin babies. It seems semi-retirement served him well. Better still is his return to the palengke, which propelled him to take the top spot in the 2004 senatorial elections. Clad in light blue, with minimal fanfare and gimmicks, he does the rounds of the palengkes, where young and old know him by his old monicker “Mr. Palengke.” He is running on one of his strengths – Roxas is a Wharton-trained economist from the University of Pennsylvania – … [Read more...] about No-frills Mar/Dangerous tally
Origin of Yeti: Asia’s Abominable snowman or mere black bear?
The Yeti or Abominable Snowman of the mountainous terrains of Nepal and Tibet have given birth to drawing room tales in a wintry evening, provided many with the worst share of their nightmares and the legend also formed the framework for many novelists, thus presenting a vast range of books and tales of adventure of the same.DNA tests of samples including hair, bones, teeth and feces, sadly, destroyed all the myths surrounding the legend. A study conducted by scientists, based on the DNA tests conclude that Yetis never existed. And the samples? Well, they belong to Asian black bears, Himalayan or Tibetan brown bears.The findings crushed all the myths and folklore attached to the legend. Call it the Bigfoot, Skunk Ape, Yeren, Yowie, this creature gave all of us serious goosebumps. Coming back to the Abominable Snowman, who was it? Where was it born? How are the Nazis and Russians connected to it?The answer lies buried, beneath the snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas.Origin of the … [Read more...] about Origin of Yeti: Asia’s Abominable snowman or mere black bear?
Fake news must be curbed before it affects society: PM Lee
There is wide scope for discourse in Singapore, but fake news is a distinct and specific problem that must be curbed before it affects society, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. He made this point in an interview, when asked for his response to concerns that proposed laws to tackle fake news would curb free speech. There is no society in which free speech is absolute or uncontrolled, he said, noting that it exists within appropriate boundaries. For example, speech that is defamatory or threatening in nature lies outside of these boundaries, said PM Lee in an interview conducted in Mandarin with variety show host Kym Ng and news presenter Evelyn Lam that was broadcast on Mediacorp's Channel 8 last night. "We must set an appropriate boundary that would allow us to protect free speech and allow people to exchange information, thoughts and opinions in a meaningful way," he added. Other countries, like the United States and those in Europe, are also grappling with the problem of fake … [Read more...] about Fake news must be curbed before it affects society: PM Lee