Confronting Misinformation With Kindness
Religion Unplugged believes in a diversity of well-reasoned and well-researched opinions. This piece reflects the views of the author and does not necessarily represent those of Religion Unplugged, its staff and contributors.
Unsplash photo
(OPINION) Misinformation has become an avalanche, burying us all in conspiracy theories, doctored images, and most recently, false claims about the Israel-Hamas war. It challenges us because our decisions as individuals and as a society are only as solid as the information we base them on.
How do we make decisions that are good for ourselves and for our communities when misinformation pervades the news and information we consume?
As an ambassador for the News Literacy Project and an educator who trains teachers how to teach media literacy in the classroom, I find myself asking this question consistently. It makes me think of the First Amendment and how its freedoms — petition, assembly, speech, religion and press — are a key part of American democracy. It also makes me think of my faith.
We can say and believe whatever we want to. But before we post or speak, we need to remember what really creates a strong society. A biblical proverb illustrates the basis of strength: “Though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him — a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV) Strength is not the ability to out-argue others. It is not brute force. Strength is learning to work together.
Characteristics like kindness and humility reinforce that strength and develop a society in which people trust one another and listen to each other.
Misinformation creates division. A social media post can shape our opinions, and as more and more posts solidify that opinion, we find ourselves becoming polarized, arguing with those we once respected and pushing away others we love. In an age where misinformation can drive wedges between us, we need to remember that kindness and humility help bring us together.
There are ways we can avoid the downward spiral of misinformation. We can all practice news literacy skills. You may not think that news literacy and our character are connected. But the way that we approach news and information significantly impacts how we interact with others. Part of having a relationship is sharing information and thoughts. That sharing can be an opportunity to build up society or to tear it down.
Now is the perfect time to learn these skills. National News Literacy Week, an event sponsored by the News Literacy Project that runs from Jan. 22-26, helps people understand how to separate fact from fiction.
Becoming more news literate is easy. First, we need to ask if what we are saying is factually accurate, and how we can prove that. Is the source of our information credible, such as a standards-based news organization? Or are we simply sharing a video that we saw on YouTube that we reacted strongly to? Misinformation often preys on our emotions — like fear and anger, or even hope and wonder — so that we act quickly without thinking critically.
Second, we need to remember the values of humility and kindness. Humility allows us to acknowledge that we could possibly be wrong. Our current information landscape today is so complex that it’s easy to be misled, despite our best intentions. We also need kindness, so that when we know someone is spreading misinformation, we can confront them with facts and also show them empathy and understanding.
We can’t make good decisions as individuals or a society without a shared set of facts. If we do not keep in mind the values upon which our society is based when we consume and share news and information, we risk allowing misinformation to polarize and divide us. As Jesus reminds us, a house divided cannot stand (Matthew 12:25).
Jason Hensley teaches history and religion at California Lutheran University. He is also an ambassador for the News Literacy Project. He holds doctorates in history and biblical studies. Connect with him at jasonhensley.net.