The Art of misinformation -

Media has advanced through the years with equipment and features coming out every year from brands we all know and upcoming brands trying to enter the market. We have always heard people saying that technology is bad, and furthermore. With these advancements also comes intention. People try their best to have the right intention, but there are cases when we do share false information, which is called misinformation, because we like the engagement we get from other social media users. This does not happen just on social media; it happens everywhere, and it's a never-ending battle with ourselves and the people around us.

This image is an example of digitally edited political misinformation. It appears to show a real tweet from President Donald Trump and photos of “Swifties for Trump,” but both are fake. The shirts in the photos have been digitally altered, and the headline about ISIS “saving” a Taylor Swift concert is completely fabricated. The creator uses familiar formats—news layouts, propaganda posters, and social media screenshots—to make the post look believable. The goal is to mislead viewers by suggesting that Taylor Swift fans are supporting Trump, creating a false sense of political momentum. This shows how easily manipulated images can spread misinformation online and influence public perception.

The video claims that President Donald Trump has dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and labels it “breaking news,” but this message is misleading because no verified announcement of such a withdrawal has been made. The clip uses sensational wording like “Shocking,” “Breaking News,” and “Crowd Stunned,” along with bold colours and dramatic framing, to provoke urgency and make the claim feel credible. This crosses ethical lines by spreading unverified election-related information that can confuse or manipulate viewers during a politically sensitive time.

The video conveys the message that a Sudanese mother and her children urgently need donations to survive, but it is misleading because the footage is AI-generated and does not depict real people or a real situation. It uses emotional techniques—such as crying children, distressed expressions, and close-up visuals—to provoke sympathy and a sense of urgency. In doing so, it crosses ethical lines by exploiting the imagery of suffering, manipulating viewers’ emotions, and using fabricated AI content to solicit donations under false pretences.

Reflection on Digital Storytelling Ethics -

In a social-first world, the biggest issues with sharing content or publishing are misinformation, emotional manipulation, and deceptive editing. For example, the videos I analysed claimed that a political candidate had dropped out of the 2024 election, using bold colours and dramatic texts to create urgency, even though the post was fake. Another post used staged or edited images to suggest that a large pop culture fandom was rallying behind a political figure, creating an illusion of widespread support. These examples can distort reality, especially when designed to grab attention.

This week's readings emphasise that "journalists should seek out the truth and report it." (SPJ CODE OF ETHICS) A reminder that accuracy must take precedence over engagement. creators and journalists can balance captivating storytelling with responsibility by using strong visuals without exaggeration, verifying information before posting, and clearly labelling edits or AI-generated material. In my own work, I aim to approach social storytelling with transparency and care. My personal commitment is that in my next piece, I will double-check every claim or statistic I include and avoid using visuals that could be misinterpreted or taken out of cont