We have never swum in such a vast ocean of information before. How do we navigate it when we must act as our own rudder, sailor, and ship?
How much does an elephant weigh? What is the Green Deal? What does "sigma" mean? Among other things, these are the kinds of questions that Poles most often asked Google in 2024. Thanks to the internet, the world no longer holds any secrets from us, because we can obtain any information within seconds. Or at least so it seems to us. In this sea of information, there is no shortage of disinformation reefs.
Disinformation – how and why does it work?
According to the definition, disinformation is simply false or misleading content. It can take the form of posts, articles, comments, films, or videos. Basically, all the types of content our brains process daily—sticking with the maritime terminology—by the hectoliter, and which we also eagerly produce ourselves. The fact that this definition of disinformation has been published on the website of the Ministry of Climate and Environment comes as no surprise—climate catastrophe is now one of the global topics surrounded by all sorts of conspiracy theories. Ranging from wind turbines allegedly harming cows to claims that there is no catastrophe at all.
The mechanism of disinformation works and can be devastatingly effective because it is based on our strong emotions, such as fear or anger. Disinformation is manipulation, and a conscious one at that—its goal is to incite panic or fear, polarize society, and weaken the credibility of public institutions. It's hard to fight because it attracts our attention like a magnet and spreads rapidly. And so the spiral continues: if many people repeat or share some content, we start to wonder if there isn't at least a grain of truth in it? All the more so because disinformation often refers to a "truth hidden from the public."
How not to fall for disinformation? Think critically
The most effective weapon against disinformation is critical thinking. This is the ability to soberly, logically, and reflectively analyze information, arguments, and sources in order to distinguish facts from opinions, manipulation from reliability, and credible sources from untrustworthy ones. Critical thinking enables us to make reasonable, independent decisions and is listed among the key skills in the Integrated Skills Strategy 2030. This is a document that identifies the competencies every Pole should develop in the coming years.
How to start thinking critically?
1. Check the source of information. Make sure who the author is—are they reputable media, experts, public institutions, or an anonymous user or unknown website?
2. Verify in several independent sources. Don't rely on just one post or article. If it’s important information, you'll also find it in other reliable media.
3. Pay attention to emotional language and manipulation. Content laced with fear, aggression, or shock often aims to stir emotions.
4. Don't share immediately—think first. Ask yourself: "Could this be false?"
5. Use fact-checking tools. Visit fact-checking websites (e.g., Demagog.pl, AFP Sprawdzam, FakeHunter, Snopes.com) and use built-in Google tools (e.g., "Check source" in search results).
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