Activity 2
Activity 2 Worksheet:
2a. Read the following social media posts and online newspapers headlines.
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Number |
Social media post / Headline |
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1. Social media Post |
“Snowing in Texas and Louisiana, record setting freezing temperatures throughout the country and beyond. Global warming is an expensive hoax!” Source: https://twitter.com |
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2. Social media Post |
“In the East, it could be the COLDEST New Year’s Eve on record. Perhaps we could use a little bit of that good Global Warming that our Country, but no other countries, was going to pay TRILLIONS of DOLLARS to protect against. Bundle up!” Source: https://twitter.com |
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3. Headline |
“Scientists: Here’s What Really Causes Climate Change (And It Has Nothing To Do With Human Beings)”. Source: https://www.dailywire.com |
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4. Headline |
“Climate scientists: Climate Models Have Overestimated Global Warming. The models end up with a warming which is larger than the observed warming for the current emissions.” Source: https://www.dailywire.com |
2b. Analyze online newspaper headlines & social media posts regarding the features of misinformation you identify.
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FEATURE |
Post 1 |
Post 2 |
Headline 1 |
Headline 2 |
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“Continued influence effect” |
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Sense of familiarity by repeated info (“Illusory truth effect”) |
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Use of emotional language |
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Use of “just asking questions” strategy |
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Questioning scientific consensus |
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Highlighting scientific uncertainty |
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Undermining scientists’ credibility |
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Provision of pseudoscientific alternatives |
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2c. Which are the most common features of misinformation regarding climate change?
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2d. Are there any differences in the way misinformation is communicated via social media posts & online newspapers?
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2e. How can this fake news be “established” in the public's beliefs?
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