The Mandela Effect occurs when large groups of people share a collective delusion about some historical event or cultural experience. How does this collective misremembering happen and why is relevant today? Psychology has attempted to explain the reasons for our mistaken memories, as have other fields of study including philosophy, metaphysics, and neuroscience, but what about the law?
Read moreResources for Social Media Literacy to Combat Post-Election Disinformation Initiatives
We at the Harris County Law Library are committed to providing our patrons the most accurate and reliable information from legitimate, authoritative sources. If, for example, a patron needs to file a divorce petition, we trust web sites like TexasLawHelp.org to guide patrons through the process. TexasLawHelp.org bears all the hallmarks of a reliable legal information website. It is accurate, authoritative, current, and reputable, qualities that inspire confidence in its validity and reliability.
These are the identifiers to look for when evaluating any online content, especially on social media. In the days after the election, as we await the final tally of all ballots in several states, we can expect to see a rise in the spread of misinformation, particularly on Twitter and Facebook. To encourage information consumers of all political stripes to examine online content carefully, we are providing the following list of resources.
These sites discuss the red flags to look for in identifying misinformation online, helping us all to become more discerning information seekers. Further, they explain how the perpetrators of misinformation campaigns are trying to create doubt, bias our perceptions, and foment discord in our information spaces. Using the strategies presented here for reducing the impact of misinformation may prevent us all from becoming viral vectors in the perpetuation of anything but the truth.
Uncertainty and Misinformation: What to Expect on Election Night and Days After -- UW Center for an Informed Public; Washington State University; and Stanford University Internet Observatory
The most dangerous day for disinformation isn't Election Day, it's the day after – Business Insider
Interference 2020 – Columbia Journalism Review
#Protect2020 Rumor vs. Reality – Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Misinformation Watch 2020 -- CNN
Stand With The Facts – KUOW & Center for an Informed Public
Voters' Guide To Election Security In The 2020 Presidential Campaign – NPR
The Anatomy Of An Election Disinformation Campaign – On Point, WBUR
Understanding Election Disinformation in 2016, 2020, and Beyond – Public Knowledge
Election Day promises to be full of misinformation. Here’s how we can all stop its spread. – Washington Post
