In the wave of Artificial Intelligence (AI), it can be challenging to know what information is factual and what is fiction. Misinformation is false, inaccurate, or misleading content, even if it is spread unintentionally. According to a recent survey, Only 61 percent of participants could tell the difference between AI-generated people and real ones. 

Spotting a fake image or AI-generated text message can be difficult without the proper knowledge and, in some cases, frightening to students and educators. Earlier this month, at a middle school in Beverly Hills, school administrators were alerted to images of students’ faces that were superimposed onto AI-generated bodies. In cases similar to the Beverly Hills incident, how do you spot misinformation to safeguard students? 

Develop Media Literacy Skills

Media literacy skills can improve students’ and educators’ ability to identify misinformation. Educators can develop and enhance their media literacy skills by equipping themselves with the tools to recognize misinformation and stay updated on common misinformation tactics, fact-checking resources, and techniques for evaluating sources.

The SIFT Method

One method of identifying misinformation created by research scientist Mike Caufield is SIFT. SIFT has four steps: Stop, Investigate the Source, Find Better Coverage, and Trace the Original Context.

• Stop: Ask yourself whether you know the source of the information and the reputation of the claim.
• Investigate the Source: Identifying where media comes from before reading will help you decide if it is worth your time and, if it is, better understand its significance and trustworthiness.
• Find Better Coverage: Use the best source on this topic, or, just as importantly, scan multiple sources and see what the expert consensus is.
• Trace the Original Context: Trace the claim, quote, or media back to the source so that you can see it in its original context and feel confident that the version you saw was accurately presented.

Common Misinformation Tactics

Understanding common misinformation tactics can help develop media literacy and improve an educator’s ability to safeguard students. Below is a list of common misinformation tactics. 

• Websites like FakeWhats and IFakeTextMessage allow users to create fake text message conversations. Users can change the battery percentage, carrier, and text color, among other things.
• Several websites, like generated.photos.com and this-person-does-not-exist.com, allow users to create AI-generated fake photos of people by combining different images on the web.
• Software like Later.com enables users to schedule social media posts and comments months in advance and make them look like they are coming from somewhere else. (For example, I can schedule a post to look like I’m in Tyler, Texas, when I’m in New York City.)

Encourage Source Verification

Another avenue to identify misinformation is to verify the source of the media. Media sources can be verified in several ways, such as using reputable news outlets, locating peer-reviewed articles, Google or Bing searches, and credible research sources. 

Tools to Recognize Misinformation

While understanding misinformation tactics is essential, knowing how to recognize them is critical. Below is a list of helpful tools for identifying misinformation.

• Websites like Tineye and FaceCheckID can help distinguish fact from fiction when identifying whether an image is AI-generated. When an image is uploaded to Tineye, it searches the web for similar images, if applicable. 
• Websites like F-secure can be helpful if you are presented with a text message and need to determine if it is fake.

Promote Critical Thinking

Educators can foster an environment that encourages questioning, discussion, and independent research to combat the spread of misinformation. Students, educators, and administrators are susceptible to misinformation, and no one is immune to its effects. Regardless of background or education, anyone can fall victim to false or misleading information. 

That is why it is essential to teach and encourage students to analyze information critically, consider multiple perspectives, and evaluate the credibility of sources. This will benefit students and empower educators to be on the lookout for signs of misinformation.

While AI continuously evolves, the tips for identifying and fighting misinformation will always apply. Educators and administrators can continue to develop their media literacy skills, encourage staff and students to verify the media source, and promote critical thinking when analyzing the subject.

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