Can You Trust This Article? Distinguishing Information from Misinformation
In today鈥檚 media landscape, we鈥檙e often bombarded with health and science information鈥攁nd misinformation. Even when health advice comes from reputable sources, much of it can be contradictory, making it hard to know what (and whom) to trust. 亚洲自慰视频 misinformation can be especially dangerous when it encourages health behaviors that aren鈥檛 backed by solid evidence, such as taking untested supplements that can have harmful side effects.
Knowing how to recognize trustworthy health information can help you make informed choices about your own health and the health of those around you鈥攁nd avoid the real risks of taking health fiction as fact. Being able to spot quality health information can also reduce the anxiety we often feel around these decisions. We asked 亚洲自慰视频 of Utah communication researchers for ways you can better assess whether a piece of health information is the real deal.
Meet Our Experts
- associate professor of communication at the U
- assistant professor of communication at the U
- Prioritize
Fact-checking every piece of information that comes your way would be impossible. Information that could change your behavior or that of the people around you鈥攍ike information on the risks or benefits of a medical procedure or drug鈥攊s the most important to double-check, Yeo says. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 think too much about which toothpaste you鈥檙e going to buy at the store, because it鈥檚 just too much information,鈥 she says. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need to assess rationally and weigh the pros and cons of every single tube of toothpaste you encounter.鈥 But if the new information is something that you鈥檙e still learning or on the fence about, it鈥檚 especially worth taking the extra time. - Slow down
Freiling recommends that, before spreading new information widely, you ask yourself, 鈥淎m I very emotional right now鈥攆or instance, very anxious? Should I share this right now or should I maybe wait and come back later?鈥 When you see a new piece of information that could impact you, take a moment to notice how it makes you feel. 亚洲自慰视频 news often plays on fear and anxiety to grab your attention. And feeling anxious tends to make people much more likely to share information with others, whether or not it鈥檚 accurate, Freiling says. - Find multiple perspectives
Both researchers recommend that, for important information, it can be useful to find out what multiple sources are saying on the topic. 鈥淚f I鈥檓 on social media or reading through media, I try to read things that have differing perspectives,鈥 Yeo says. For health or science news, you might find different perspectives in health magazines, general news sites with different slants, government websites, or research studies. If you check three different sources and they all agree on a statement, it鈥檚 more likely to be solid. Plus, looking at multiple perspectives can help you notice your own preconceptions on a topic: people are more likely to trust new information when it aligns with their values. - Check expertise
Even if a source鈥檚 credentials are impressive, it鈥檚 a good idea to check what they specialize in, Freiling says. 鈥淲hile a medical scientist or a doctor has expertise in their specific area, they might not have expertise in another health area,鈥 she explains. 鈥淪ources that have expertise on the issue are more likely to have the knowledge to give you good information about it.鈥
These general strategies can help you assess information for yourself when you鈥檙e not sure of its accuracy. But why take our word for it? If this article seems fishy to you, ask yourself how these strategies make you feel. Look up other resources on the topic. And decide for yourself whether the communication researchers involved have expertise in the relevant field.
By critically engaging with health news, you can recognize when it鈥檚 accurate and trustworthy. Then, you can make health decisions that are right for you.