Do you get that the news is tricky or get tricked by the news?
Answer the questions based on what you would most likely do in each situation.
Hint: If you come across any unfamiliar words copy and paste them to your web browser search and see what they mean.
There is an online discussion about a UFO that has been spotted near to where you live. You're not sure if someone is making this up so you try to find out more. Do you:
a) ask other people on the same site to see what they think about the story?
Be more careful, you might be getting a one-sided view! Look at what is being said on different news sites you know that are regularly updated. Comparing different views and opinions from a number of sources will help you get a more accurate picture of what you want to know.
b) go to a few different news sites you know that are regularly updated and see what is being reported?
Well done! Comparing different views and opinions from a number of sources will help you get a more accurate picture of what you want to know.
c) do a search using the term UFO and the name of your area and look at the top few sites listed?
Be careful! There are no internet police, and this means that a lot of websites show information that is inaccurate, out of date or biased. Looking at what is being said on different news sites that are regularly updated will help you get a more accurate picture of what you want to know.
You are writing an article for your school newspaper on how computers have changed people's lives. You need to find out who invented the computer. You have found a blog by a Professor Marshall who claims to be an expert in computers, an entry in Wikipedia and a list of facts about computers on an educational website. All give you a different answer. Which of these do you use?
a) Only the Professor because Professors really know their stuff.
Be careful! Some people use the internet to pass their opinion off as news or try to persuade you to think in a certain way. Comparing different views and opinions from a number of sources will help you get a more accurate picture of what you want to know.
b) Only Wikipedia because it is an encyclopaedia so it must be accurate.
Be careful! Anyone can edit Wikipedia, and people do get things wrong. Comparing different views and opinions from a number of sources will help you get a more accurate picture of what you want to know.
c) All three because comparing views is better than using just one source of information.
Well done! Comparing different views and opinions from a number of sources will help you get a more accurate picture of what you want to know.
You watch an online news report. The scientist interviewed says that there is no such thing as global warming. She presents some of the latest figures and graphs which seem to support her claim. Do you:
a) search for the name of the scientist? If she really is a scientist then she must be believed.
Be careful! Some people use the internet to pass their opinion off as news or try to persuade you to think in a certain way. Comparing different views and opinions from a number of sources will help you get a more accurate picture of what you want to know.
b) immediately start telling everyone that they have been getting it wrong? There is no global warming!
I’m afraid that you are being tricked by the news! There are no internet police, and this means that a lot of websites show information that is inaccurate, out of date or biased. Be more careful! Find out more from different sources before you make your mind up.
c) find out more from different sources before you make your mind up? This is just one opinion.
Well done! Comparing different views and opinions from a number of sources will help you get a more accurate picture of what you want to know.
You read a review of the latest film release in the entertainment section of a news website. The star of the film looks amazing in the photo. Do you:
a) believe the star must be naturally very good looking and that someone has taken a really great photo of them?
I’m afraid that you are being tricked by the news! You can’t always trust what you see - photos are often retouched to make celebrities look different than they do in real life.
b) think that the photo may have been altered to make the star look different to real life?
Well done! You can’t always trust what you see - photos are often retouched to make celebrities look different than they do in real life.
c) believe the photo must be genuine? The news site wouldn't be allowed to lie to people.
I’m afraid that you are being tricked by the news! You can’t always trust what you see - photos are often retouched to make celebrities look different than they do in real life.
You are reading an article that says that chocolate is good for you. At the bottom of the page you notice that the article was written by a well known chocolate maker. What do you think?
a) Hurray! It's on the internet so it must be true. Chocolate for every meal from now on!
Oh dear! The purpose of the article might be to get people to buy more chocolate. Look at some other sources of information before making your mind up. Look at some other sources of information before making your mind up.
b) People who make chocolate must know more about chocolate than anyone else. It must be true.
Be careful! The purpose of the article might be to get people to buy more chocolate. Look at some other sources of information before making your mind up.
c) The purpose of the article might be to get people to buy more chocolate. Look at some other sources of information before making your mind up.
Well done! You understand that all websites are all created for a reason and some sites that appear to be giving advice might actually be trying to sell you something.