Media literacy lesson: Three types of manipulated video used to spread misinformation

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Overview

Seeing is believing—which is why manipulated video can be a powerful tool to spread misinformation. Students will learn three ways that video is manipulated to spread misinformation, how to detect manipulated video, and how to fact-check it before sharing it.

These lessons were developed by PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs in partnership with MediaWise and the Teen Fact-Checking Network , which are part of the Poynter Institute . This partnership has been made possible with support from Google.”

Objectives

Students will be able to:

  • Explain three ways videos can be manipulated.
  • Detect manipulated video.
  • Fact-check suspected manipulated media.

Subjects

media literacy, social studies, language arts, journalism, ELA, English Language Arts, English, civics

Grade Levels

Grades 6-12

KEY VOCABULARY

  • Video manipulation — Use or alteration of video in an intentionally misleading way that alters the original meaning or perception of the original or complete footage.
    • Missing context — Unaltered footage that is accompanied by false information that misleads the viewer.
    • Deceptive editing — When footage is rearranged, edited or cut so that some parts are left out.
    • Malicious transformation — Footage that has been doctored or fabricated. For example, deepfakes.
  • Reading upstream — Following a link within a news story or claim directly to the original source of information or the primary sources referenced. This can help you answer, “What’s the evidence?” Heading directly to the primary sources linked in an article is a for-sure way to get the unfiltered facts.

    • DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

    Warm-up : Have you have ever seen a deepfake video online? What made you think it was a deepfake? What clues or tools can you use to help you detect them?

    Watch the MediaWise Teen-Fact Checking Network (TFCN) video. According to the video…

  • How did the teen fact-checker prove the video of the White House Press Secretary was manipulated?
  • What were some clues that the video of Ukrainian President Zelensky was a deepfake?
  • What three tips can help you identify a deepfake video?

    • DIG DEEPER

  • Why are manipulated images and videos popular and widely shared?
  • Who should be responsible for monitoring and verifying manipulated media that promotes misinformation? Creators? Platforms? Consumers like you? Why?

    • ACTIVITY

    Compare the real video to the deepfake video of former president Obama created by the University of Washington. What are some of the clues that this is a deepfake? What problems can deepfake videos of public officials create?

    These lessons were developed by PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs in partnership with MediaWise and the Teen Fact-Checking Network , which are part of the Poynter Institute . This partnership has been made possible with support from Google.”

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