Is information on the web always reliable? | Year 6 Computing PDF Download

Who can publish information and news on the web?

Content refers to information, news, images, videos, and other materials that are created and shared with an audience. This content can take various forms and serves different purposes based on the target audience.
Here are some examples of entities that engage in content creation:

• Governments
• Large companies
• Popular celebrities
• Smaller groups like charities and schools
• Groups of friends
• Individuals pursuing it as a hobby 

Where is online content published?

Online content can be published across various platforms and websites.
Here are the different ways in which content can be shared on the internet:

• Create Your Own Website and Publish Webpages: Creating your website allows you to have a collection of interconnected webpages where you can share information, images, videos, and more. This is a common method used by individuals, businesses, and organizations to establish an online presence.
• Publish Content on Social Media Profiles: Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn provide spaces for users to publish and share content with their followers and the public. These platforms enable users to reach a wide audience and engage with others through comments, likes, and shares.
• Add Comments to Other People's Online Spaces: Engaging with existing online content by adding comments is a way to interact with creators and other users. This interaction can lead to discussions, sharing of opinions, and building a community around shared interests.

These various platforms where content can be published are often referred to as "platforms," which serve as online spaces or websites for sharing a wide range of content.

If anyone can put content online, how do we know it's not all fake?

In the digital age where anyone can publish content online, discerning between what's real and what's fake has become increasingly challenging.
Let's delve into the two primary categories of misleading information:

Disinformation:

• Deliberate Deception: Disinformation pertains to the intentional dissemination of false information with the aim of misleading others. Commonly referred to as fake news, this type of misinformation is often propagated through social media channels. 
• Example: A fabricated news story shared on social media platforms to manipulate public opinion during an election.

Misinformation:

• Unintentional Errors: Misinformation involves the sharing of inaccurate information unintentionally. This can occur due to a lack of fact-checking, outdated information, or unknowingly sharing falsehoods. 
• Example: Sharing an outdated health remedy on a blog without verifying its effectiveness, leading to potential harm for readers.

How do we find reliable websites?

Start by examining the creator of the online content. Verify the credibility of the source.

• Check the website URL or address. Focus on the domain name after www to understand ownership.
• If the domain name is recognizable, it indicates credibility. Trustworthy names and organizations are preferable.
• Domain endings provide insights:
  • .sch.uk: Typically signifies a school website.
  • .ac.uk: Indicates a college or educational institution's website.
  • .gov.uk: Indicates a government website.
• If the domain isn't familiar, search for an "About Us" or "Who We Are" section on the site.
• If information about the content creator is scarce, it may raise concerns about the site's reliability.

What does unreliable content look like?

Unreliable web content can exhibit several key characteristics that make it stand out:

• Badly written
• Disorganized
• Full of spelling errors
• Contains outdated information

Unreliable content is often visually unappealing, with squashed images and hard-to-read text, indicating a lack of care in its creation.
Distinguishing disinformation or fake news can be more challenging. In such cases, content creators aim to deceive by mimicking the appearance of reputable sites. They put effort into making their content visually appealing and similar to trusted sources.

How can we check if it really is accurate?

• Why Verification is Important: When you come across information on a website, it's crucial to ensure its accuracy before believing and sharing it.
• Checking Information on Multiple Websites: One effective way to verify information is by cross-referencing it on different websites. If the same information is found consistently across various reputable sources, it's likely to be accurate.
• Understanding Verification: Verification involves confirming the validity of information by corroborating it from multiple sources. This process helps in identifying reliable and trustworthy information.
• Identifying Fake News and Opinions: On social media, misinformation and opinions can rapidly circulate. It's important not to immediately trust news stories or opinions encountered on these platforms.
• Utilizing Trusted Sources: When in doubt about the accuracy of information, it's advisable to seek confirmation from established and reputable sources like Newsround or other well-known websites.

What about fake images and photos?

• Digital technology makes it easy to edit and change (manipulate) photos so that they look totally different.
• This is often a sign that information is unreliable. You can sometimes tell by looking closely that an image has been manipulated.
• If you're not sure about an image and think it might be fake, then you can search for the same image using a. This will let you see where else it has been used on the web.
• If you can see that the image has been copied or manipulated to look different, then you might have found some fake news.

Addressing Unreliable Information and Fake News

• If you encounter online disinformation or misinformation that is clearly untrue or inaccurate, it's important to report it to the web platform that published it.
• It's also a good idea to inform a trusted adult who can assist you in reporting the content to the appropriate authorities or platform administrators.