Tue, Oct 10

In this session, we'll consider the dilemma of "fake news." This problem initially seems clear cut: if something isn't factual, then it can be dismissed as false. But just because something isn't factual doesn't mean that it doesn't have any utility. There is tremendous tension on the Internet right now between those who decry fake content of any sort and want it removed from social media, and those that generate it as part of a creative process that is contributing to a new online culture. While there are bad actors out there trying to manipulate us, that is only a small part of a much larger story. 

We have two main in-class learning goals. By the end of lecture today you will:

1. Become familiar with emerging social and political problems associated with the propagation of fake information on the Internet.  
2. Learn to question the logic that everything that is fake on the Internet is bad. 

The slides for today's lecture.