Navigating a post-truth world
With trends like social media, fake news and AI, our online world requires us to engage carefully and responsibly.
It is easier for people to mask their identity and intent online without being held to account. Online interactions can be simulated too—you may not be engaging with real people at all.
You are in control
Consider the following to help keep you safe.
- Check your privacy controls and adjust accordingly.
- Manage who can see your profile or add you as a friend.
- Limit the time you spend on social media, gaming, or other addictive platforms.
- Consider filtering content or chat, such as nature of language and level of graphical content displayed.
Social media
Social media feeds serve up content that a platform’s algorithm it deems relevant to you and reinforces messages you have previously seen. Social media can influence how you think about the world and issues, how you feel about yourself, and how you identify.
Keep in mind that social media is rife with bots and fake profiles that often have limited information, activity, or a dubious photo (if any). Think before you engage and apply judgement when engaging on social media.
Netsafe can help you safely navigate many different social media platforms. If you have been impacted by harmful behaviour on social media, you can contact the Tauria—Student Interest and Conflict Resolution team for support.
Fake news, misinformation and disinformation
Critical thinking and fact checking are key to identifying and preventing circulation of fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
- Fake news—stories that can feature clickbait headlines, incorrect reporting or lack of fact checking, manipulated or “touched-up” images, or advocate a particular agenda.
- Misinformation—where incorrect information is circulated and its circulation could cause harm, even if there was no intention to mislead.
- Disinformation—false information that is deliberately designed to mislead.
- Propaganda—a systematic approach to distributing large quantities of content that is intended to influence an audience to a particular view or narrative.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI has been around for years but generative AI is comparatively new. Generative AI responds to user prompts to create new content—like text, pictures, audio and video—from existing content. Examples of generative AI are Chat GPT, Claude, and Gemini.
Because generative AI interrogates large amounts of data without discrimination, it often “hallucinates”—it makes things up that are inaccurate or untrue. Your critical thinking skills and fact checking are essential if working with AI.
Remember that any data entered into generative AI becomes part of its ecosystem and can be used by others, so don't give away personal or commercial information—you could compromise yourself or an organisation down the line.
Read the University guidelines for using AI.