Too often, we believe what we see without questioning it. This can be very dangerous when it comes to the Internet. The Internet is full of lies and deceit, weaving themselves among the truth. So how can you protect yourself against the lies and falsehoods?
Why are There Lies on the Internet?
The internet is a network of networks, so there is not one single company running the system and verifying information. It is actually owned by all users. That's right, you and I are co-owners of the internet among the billions of other internet users. This means anyone is free to post files on it, making that information accessible to other users. With that in mind, one can only imagine the numerous beliefs, biases, and experiences any single person can have. Multiply that by the current population of the world and you have the potential to be exposed to an infinite number of lies, among a few the truths. Click here for more information regarding how the internet works.
**So why DO people lie on the internet?
ABC has that story covered: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/people-lie-internet/story?id=13060797
People naturally lie. It is much easier when they feel they can go undetected, behind a computer screen
Types of Lies
There are different types of falsehoods you can find on the internet:
- Inaccurate Information
- Phishing Sites
- Trojan Sites
- Malicious Sites
These examples show how other users may try to deceive you online, sometimes by gaining very personal information from you.
Safety Tips
Other user's may attempt to falsify information or gain personal identification information from you, so here are a few tips when browsing online:
1. Question the source.
Where did it come from? Who wrote this? Are you on a reputable website? Is the author bias? Do they have any experience or knowledge in this topic?
A good tip is to look at the ending of the URL and check the filename. Filenames such as .gov and .edu usually contain true information, while .com websites should be read cautiously.
2. Track the listed sources
As information travels through different sources, the original context is easily manipulated. You must track the flow of this information. Check if you are looking at a primary or secondary source.
3. Ask the right questions
Get into the habit of questioning what you see on the Internet. Do not believe everything you see. Remember to question the source.
Additional Information on steps to find truth through a sea of lies:
http://lifehacker.com/5950871/how-to-spot-truth-in-the-sea-of-lies-rumors-and-myths-on-the-internet
(Correy)
News
When going on the internet you are presented with an ocean of information, but not everything is credible. Think about frequently used sites: Facebook, Tumbler, Twitter. People are constantly posting clips from media, news articles, and status's about current events on these social media sites. Everyone has their own personal opinion on world events, so biased things may be posted.
However, one site that is too often trusted as a reputable resource is Wikipedia. The site claims that information posted is under constant surveillance, yet information can be edited by anyone_ at __anytime! It is not possible to check every single thing posted all the time. (Justin)
So, How do you know that the information on these sites is true? The answer to that question is that sometimes you do not!
To be sure something is true, one must do some work.
There are ideas floating around on the internet that there is going to be a lie detector for social media sites. Is this really true or another falsehood on the internet?Read this article and you can choose for yourself.
Social Media
An advancement of social and mobile media should also mean an advancement in our culture and values, right? Wrong
With information at the tip of our fingertips these days and the technology of "auto correct" people are making more mistakes than ever on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Fortunately for the well informed internet user, these mistakes make for some funny entertainment:
1. Spelling is Inaccurate on Twitter, leading one to believe hypocrites are also philosophers:
2. Math terms are confused with incorporeal creatures:
3. People mistake famous quotes all the time:
4. People don't stop to question their sources:
5. People don't question the "facts".
Moral of the story? Make sure you're an informed internet user so you can be on the receiving end of the joke.
Further Reading
For more information on how to protect yourself against lies and falsehoods on the internet go to:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/downloads/pdf/internet.pdf -Information Regarding Sale Scams on the Internet
http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/tag/howtoprotectyourself - Protecting Your Identity and Money from Scams