Digital Democracy: [effective communication and tackling - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Digital Democracy: [effective communication and tackling misinformation] Elena Felix, Gary Schwartz, Teresa Noyola, Yasmeen Alfouzan

Interview Location Wednesday, 10/2 Image Source: https://www.surfcityusa.com/listing/philz-coffee/650/

What we asked Misinformation/News Different opinions in conversation ● Tell me about a time when you felt ● Tell me about a time when you had a compelled to fact-check something you discussion with someone whose opinion heard or read. on a topic differed from yours. ● What are your main sources for news? ● By the end of this conversation, did you feel that you understood why your ● What are some characteristics of a news conversation partner held their starting source that you are likely to trust/listen opinion? to?

! Our Interviews ?

Interview #1 Who? Kendall, in her 20s, used to work in advertising, is now a baker Values facts and truth over being right or ● hearing what she wants to hear ● Feels that she can't be informed about everything at once Is Progressive, partner is Conservative ●

“It’s trial and error, and ultimately you do have to put your trust in something.”

Interview #2 Who? Nile, in his 20s, in between things but going Put picture here back to school. Very much to the left. Not that interested in traditional “news”. ● Values more what “the people” feel. ● ● Gets as much from comments section as from actual news. Doesn’t trust the news, even very liberal ● sources. Feel they have an agenda. ● Not confident that news he reads is true.

“I would want to go down to the border and see for myself what’s going on but I can’t.”

“I want to hear what real people have to say.”

Interview #3 Who? Rob, in his 50’s. Center-right. Not working Put picture here right now. Reads mostly print, types of papers you can ● pick up on the street. ● Things the news often politicizes things for their own ends. Feels there’s a tremendous gap in worldview ● between people his age and younger people. ● Feels people are biased to argue for their “team” without facts to back them up.

“My sister doesn’t have a basis for her arguments, she just wants to support her husband.”

Interview #4 Who? Ashwin, in his 40’s. Works at Google in Product Management. Extreme user - never reads the news ● Does fact check by searching online for specific ● information ● Welfare story Thinks of any news piece on something the ● public or any individual can’t act on as ‘useless’

“We have limited space in our mind, why fill it with stuff that doesn’t matter?”

Empathy Map

I changed my I don’t check At first, just listen. They all went I feel healthy after mind about Don’t come into a reading the NYT, the news, if to journalism not depressed welfare because conversation it’s important school so they like when I read I came to that expecting to probably know enough, I will the local news change your opinion with an what they’re hear about it mind. impulse at first. talking about After reading the NYT, I was easily I sometimes Family There are a lot of Give me statistics, able to understand go online to members team things more and facts. It is the the difference validate my up with their worthy of my best way to between self-driving spouse rather opinions attention than decide on an and assisted driving than form their whatever a news opinion. own opinions site chooses to I try to stay highlight and spin. I get 40% of my well informed, I don’t trust the I would like to go information from but there’s Young Turks to the border and comments, 60% anymore because only so much It’s important to see what’s really from news. I see they took money research you trust your gut going on there, the groundswell in to support can do. feeling. Everyone but all you can do Elizabeth Warren the comments has a sense of is read the news SAY what’s right and Ashwin Kendall Rob Nile wrong.

Regularly talks Mostly reads Challenges Does not talk Avoid news about politics others when printed news to younger articles and with her (picks up something they people about boyfriend outlets say seems newspaper at politics local coffee ridiculous Does ‘her part’ shops) Never in voting, even Talks with He experimented when things fact-checks other people Allegedly with reading news feel already or reads to communicated in text-only mode decided receive live with Trump (to avoid ads), Browses information via Twitter switching news comments for Talks to her sites, but none of insights from mom often, it kept him people “on despite having Tries to sell interested for long the ground” opposite parents on opinions Bernie Cares very little (unsuccessful about and ly) avoids ‘inactionable’ news DO Ashwin Kendall Rob Nile

What people Most news sites follow a People prefer to Aware of biases, think is more formula: something argue for “their and thinks it’s okay catastrophic, followed by cute side” than to interesting being neutral or not animals learn the truth. than the news forming an opinion immediately There are privacy concerns, The media Mainstream newspapers having your clicks tracked and has an are totally trustworthy, content personalized makes it agenda. whereas crime stories A conversation is easier to manipulate your feed might not be totally one of the best accurate due to involve Alternative media ways to get her misjudgements of the is more point across Intent behind people involved trustworthy than information given mainstream matters media Young people are It’s easier to understand a person’s Other people don’t superficial, childish, engage in political views, beliefs, and opinions if you not substantive discussion with know them him because they fear confrontation THINK Ashwin Kendall Rob Nile

Distrust in the The media Dissatisfaction with her Unwilling to Strong dislike media has betrayed inability to be fully submit to news for noise: ads, my ideals. informed on topics that outlets and news as she wants to form competing for entertainment opinions on Animosity his attention Connected to towards people people who I argue with Discomfort actually Comfortable discussing about the with being on experienced things with people who news. the receiving what the have opposite opinions end of opinion news is ‘manipulation’ talking about. Happy when I get Willing to change educated by the opinions given sufficient Disappointed news, especially evidence or reasoning that I haven’t if it’s presented been able to sell in an accessible my parents on and organized Bernie way FEEL Ashwin Kendall Rob Nile

Insights & Needs

Kendall Insight: “I try to read as many opinions People think it’s important to and sources as possible. It’s remain ‘unbiased’ by reading as important to diversify your many different opinions as possible; sources.” in practice, this is overwhelming. When asked to demonstrate Need: how she checks the news, she mentioned only one source Being informed of others’ opinions (TYT). without exerting much effort.

Insight: Sometimes people think their own Ashwin beliefs are under threat of being “I like getting my news from manipulated against their will, and others, that way I can challenge lack of personal trust amplifies it. them” Need: “Opinion articles always try to A way for a person to feel like their influence you, I have no interest own beliefs are safe during a in being a part of that.” conversation or reading about an issue.

Insight: People value “real” opinions by Nile people without an agenda. “I feel the media has an agenda, I Need: prefer to see what real people think about it.” A way for people to interact with the news through people who have experienced it or who have first-hand knowledge.

Insight: People often get into arguments based on “towing the party line” or Rob to “win the argument” not based on “My sister doesn’t have support cold reasoning. for her position, she just sides with her husband.” Need: A way for people to take emotions and group biases out of the argument.

Summary of Needs: Being informed of others’ opinions without exerting much effort. ● ● To feel like their own beliefs are safe during a conversation or reading about an issue. ● To interact with the news through people who have experienced it or who have first-hand knowledge. To take emotions and group biases out of the argument. ●

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