Today, most people take Internet search as an everyday task, without paying much attention to the process. However, this is not a sufficiently conscious approach, especially for people who plan to work in the field of media or information provision. A more quality-oriented approach requires information seekers to apply information censorship to viewed pages, because many site owners try to distribute information that corresponds to their specific goals and interests. Therefore, it is necessary to check web messages for false information of various categories: biased news, disinformation, fake news, hoax, malinformation, misinformation, parody/satire news, and propaganda. A responsible approach also requires journalists to adhere to journalistic ethics regarding non-distribution of false and offensive information.
Importantly, news like hoax, malinformation or parody/satire may look innocent because they do not spread false information, but the information they spread can be offensive, spoil the mood, and stop the seeker from continuing to study a certain topic, for example, socio-political truth that can be disadvantageous to certain circles. Sources that spread such information can also spread fake news and disinformation, although they rarely resort to overt propaganda on the web, more often spreading it on social media.
The requirement for fact checking becomes even more urgent in the light of the online filter bubbles phenomena. Eli Pariser argues that this phenomenon is bad for users and for democracy, saying that the Internet initially was meant to be the place that will connect people, and not isolate them (“Beware online ‘filter bubbles’”, 2011). However, today most users find themselves in a situation where algorithms remove less ‘relevant’ news from their search feeds and newsfeeds in social media. This situation is dangerous, because modern society must continue to overcome certainties, which in the past were successful thanks to the free circulation of opposing opinions. Importantly, the phenomenon of online filter bubbles creates obstacles for Google’s ambition of becoming a world’s library, as it limits users in their search.
Reference
Beware online “filter bubbles” by Eli Pariser (2011). [Video file]. Web.