CURRENT MESSAGE CAMPAIGN: EARTH DAY IS EVERY DAY
Have a Disinfo-Disrupting Dialogue: To block the lies in 2024, we are trusted messengers (yes, we can even be influencers!) for our communities in real life as well as online. #TruthBrigade
- Impromptu Conversations: Use the Truth Sandwich framework to respond on the spot. Find simple ways to find common ground in this resource
- Intentional Conversations: Deepen your conversation with experience-sharing tactics from the R.A.C.E method
- Protect yourself: In any situation where you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, politely exit
Disinfo-Buster of the Week: Personalize and Share this Message:
Snow in California; floods in Arizona: it’s easy to feel our climate crisis is unsolvable. Big Oil wants you to give up and to mistrust real solutions, like the Clean Energy Plan. Don’t buy into their lies: change is happening now! #TruthBrigade #DisinfoBuster
Join the Truth Brigade
Disinfo Buster Toolkit
One-click to share here
WHAT WE’RE SEEING NOW
Disinfo News
- A new Media Matters report has found that interacting with “tradwife” videos on TikTok (which are often about things like gardening and baking) funnels users into conspiracy theory rabbit holes. This exploitation of “lifestyle” content online is important to watch out for as platforms deprioritize more openly “political” content
- Anti-vaxxers are weaponizing news of the growing bird flu outbreak among livestock to fuel ongoing anti-vaccine sentiment and to stoke vaccine conspiracy theories
- As student protests over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza spread and the reaction to them intensifies, disinformation is also on the rise. This includes completely false statements attributed to protestors, manipulated images and videos that misrepresent actual events, and opportunists who exploit the situation to sow further division. Remember, high-profile news events frequently become hotbeds for blatant falsehoods, and the most sensational videos tend to circulate the most widely. Stay vigilant. Before sharing information, ask yourself: Are you contributing to informed discourse or escalating tensions? In your conversations, emphasize that the majority of protesters are peaceful and are advocating for change thoughtfully
Platform News
- Via Forbes: “The European Union will investigate Meta’s handling of disinformation and deceptive advertising on Instagram and Facebook, the bloc announced Tuesday, a probe that could focus on a Russian-backed influence campaign and may lead to millions in fines — amid growing concerns in the United States and Europe about foreign interference in upcoming elections.”
- The Washington Post reports that Meta may be cutting jobs on its oversight staff, which will likely add to challenges faced by an Oversight Board already facing criticism for moving too slowly and cautiously to issue decisions
RECOMMENDATIONS
- Follow Indivisible’s “X-Last” guidelines to push back
- Indivisible instructions to opt-in to receive political messaging on Meta here
- Build your reputation as a trusted messenger within your network. Post in more places (where you’re comfortable), and include tips as well as sandwiches
- Consider a focus on Facebook online. It’s still where most people find information
- Continue to hold intentional and impromptu offline conversations