Environment

This boost takes the form of a simple list of tips to assist users in judging the trustworthiness of information online (much like the fast-and-frugal decision trees also examined on this webpage).

The way information travels on social media networks is a complex, self-organized process. The original source of information and the path it took can be difficult—if not impossible—to find. A network pop-up traces this path all the way back to the beginning and visualizes the involved actors in a network representation.

The fast-and-frugal decision tree (FFT) ‘Can you trust this information?’ is an example of a simple tool for deciding whether or not to trust a piece of information encountered online. It uses three key questions: (a) ‘Who is behind this information?’ (b) ‘What is the evidence?’ (c) ‘What do other sources say?’

The news feed plays an important role in how people consume and share information. The algorithms that curate news feeds guide users through the information landscape; if designed transparently and allow the user to interact with the sorting algorithm, news feed algorithms can increase users’ autonomy.