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We hear a lot about how social networking via the Web keeps people better informed and educated about current events and crises.

• Denver News – “Researchers: Social Networking Sites Critical in Disaster Situations”
• Web20Igo – “Social Networking in Emergency Management”
• Stephenson Blogs on Homeland Security 2.0 – “21st-century Disaster Prep Tips You Won’t Get From Officials”

There’s also evidence (not to mention common sense) that social networking via the Web can also cause problems by noising up the signal and spreading misinformation.

• NPR – “Swine Flu: Twitter’s Power to Misinform”
• Computer World – “Virginia Tech Shooting Shows Benefits, Pitfalls of Social Networking Services”

Should we delete our Twitter accounts? Absolutely not!

Information can be shared any number of ways, and humans can screw it up regardless of the medium they’re using. You are responsible for examining and judging information that comes to you.

• Is it up to date or out of date?
• Where are they getting their information? How do they back it up?
• Who are they to talk? What are their credentials? What’s their experience?

Even if you’ve got up-to-date information from somebody who seems to be an expert or an authority, you still need to check for signs of errors, bias, and outright deception.

• Is there any reason to believe they might have an ideological bias or a financial stake that affects the quality of the information?
• What’s their agenda? Is it self-interested? Are they trying to change your mind, and why?

Here are some helpful web resources on how to spot the many varieties of misinformation (both malicious and unintentional) that are out there:

• Chronicle Review - “The Seven Warning Signs of Bogus Science”
• “How to Recognize Bullshit” (flowchart)
• Logical Fallacies
• Humbug! The Skeptic’s Field Guide to Spotting Fallacies in Thinking (free e-book)

If you don’t stay informed, you’re just waiting to be blindsided. By staying well-informed, you can see a potential crisis coming in the distance and have plenty of time to get out of the way. There is no substitute for your own judgment in choosing the best sources of information and subjecting it all to a bit of quality control checking.

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