Fake news and beauty filters
This is how we protect ourselves from dangers in the network
Social media have an impact on the lives of young people in particular.
© Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com
Anyone who uses social media sometimes comes across fake news. A psychologist explains how to protect yourself.
It is well known that Instagram and Co. often lead us to believe that it is an illusory world. Even so, some users feel intimidated by the seemingly perfect lives of others. In addition to the risk of blurring reality, social media also harbors the risk of spreading false information. The psychologist Christian Montag examined these problems in his book “You belong to us” (Penguin Random House). In an interview with the news agency spot on news, he gives an assessment and tips.
In your book you criticize large tech companies. Many users will probably not turn their backs on Facebook, Instagram and Co. in the future either. Why do we still use social networks despite security gaps and data theft?
Christian Montag: There are many reasons for this. On the one hand, some online offers meet basic needs for exchange or loyalty. I can keep in touch with my family over long distances using online technologies. Personally, I have spent a lot of my research time in China over the past few years. Without the possibility of using online communication technologies, this would not have been possible for me. I simply wouldn’t have seen my wife and daughter for too long.
Regardless of this, some platforms are also tools in the profession and not taking place there is not a solution. The fact that we are still on the platforms despite the scandals is also relatively easy to understand: The cognitive dissonance that we are experiencing here is building we stop by telling ourselves that half of humanity is also on social media. I personally have nothing to hide and when in doubt we are all in the same boat and then have the same problem.
Not to be forgotten, however, is the convenience factor. Many platforms are now so user-friendly that competing products at least have a hard time asserting themselves on the market. And then switching to a platform that many people in my social environment are not yet on is not very profitable. In this context, the permeability of online platforms will be one of the major issues in the near future.
When using social media, what should we be aware of?
Monday: It depends a little on the subject. If you are addressing topics like fake news and filter bubbles, the simplest solution is probably not to only find out about daily news events via social media. In my own newsfeed, I am essentially shown things that are probably of particular interest to me based on my usage history. There is a controversial discussion about how much opposing positions to my worldviews, especially on the political spectrum, are actually presented to me in my feed. Basically, a balanced media consumption helps to curb the danger of falling for fake news, of course also for the recognized public service media.
In addition, there are media literacy interventions that can actually help to identify fake news more easily and to pass it on less often. Is the headline of a message particularly sensational, does the URL look strange, which image material is used? The role of analytical thinking is central to fighting fake news.
Unfortunately, on social media in particular, such posts and tweets still achieve a particularly high reach if they deliberately evoke outrage and anger. There is an urgent need to change the algorithms in the tech companies’ news feeds.
Influencers who use edited images to create a perfect illusory world are also subject to heavy criticism. What does this do for followers?
Monday: In many scientific papers there is a discussion about the extent to which such perfect illusory worlds trigger pressure on users. For example, the daily consumption of perfectly looking people could affect their own self-worth. The feeling arises that it is no longer sufficient. Eating disorders could also be fueled, especially in young girls. In Norway, every edited image should therefore be marked as such on social media.
How do you manage not to let yourself be influenced by this illusory world without filters and a seemingly perfect life?
Monday: I think there are a few things that everyone can do for themselves. Other things need to be tackled socially as a whole. The goal must be to regain sovereignty over the structure in everyday life that has destroyed the data business model behind many online applications. We have to overcome the fragmentation of everyday life in the age of the attention economy and surveillance capitalism. In concrete terms: fewer interruptions by switching off push notifications, use of classic timers such as a wristwatch to structure everyday life correctly and create work phases in which deep concentration is possible again.
For society as a whole, I advocate moving away from the data business model; instead, public service social media might be an attractive alternative to get a grip on many of the problems such as loss of privacy, fake news and addiction-like use of online content. But of course: none of this will be available for free. I still think that it would be better to pay with money for such an online offer than with your own data.