OLLI Talks: Scroll Smarter: Spotting Fake News and Misinformation Online (HYBRID)

Multiple Sections: Class location correlates with the section number. Please pay careful attention when registering.

• Section 001: Drake Hall
• Section 002: Online

Most people have shared something online that later turned out to be false—not out of carelessness, but because digital platforms often prioritize engagement over accuracy. Misleading and false information is frequently designed to take advantage of this environment. This session examines how social media amplifies misinformation, how disinformation is created and targeted, and why it spreads so effectively across feeds, email, and group messages. By the end of the session, participants will be able to distinguish among misinformation, disinformation, and misleading framing; recognize the need for increased scrutiny of emotionally charged content; apply the SIFT method to evaluate online claims; use lateral reading to investigate sources; and identify platform features that make misinformation difficult to avoid. No technical background is required.

*Jacqueline Vickery, Ph.D., is a researcher, educator, and consultant specializing in media literacy, youth development, and helping people navigate digital life with clarity and confidence. Previously, she was a tenured professor at the University of North Texas, where she founded the Youth Media Lab, and is the author of three books, including Worried About the Wrong Things. A few years ago, she and her partner quit their jobs, sold their house, and spent 18 months traveling the world as nomads. Today, she leads Mindful Media, a consulting practice that helps organizations navigate the digital dimensions of their work. She is a CASA volunteer in Larimer County and a member of the Fort Collins Women's & Gender Equity Advisory Board. She has fallen in love with Fort Collins, and you can often find her biking around town, sipping beer on a patio, or hiking on the trails.

Notes

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