Designing to support reflection on values & practices to address online disinformation

Abstract

This research examines crowd and algorithm driven information flows in our current social media ecosystem to understand and address some of the instabilities fueling online misinformation and disinformation. The work combines empirical analysis of social media data, alternative news websites, interviews, and a design intervention to provide insights that are useful for challenging the muddled thinking, passive acquiescence and rote behaviors that give oxygen to online disinformation. Four interrelated studies are synthesized to further our understanding about online disinformation and how we might cultivate new media practices that can aid us in coping under rapidly evolving and challenging conditions.