Do I Have More Feelings Than Facts? Your Easy Guide to Media Literacy
- Caitlin Kindred
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Ariella confessed something to me during this week’s episode.
“I almost retweeted an Onion article once.
In my defense, I was exhausted. It was late. And the headline was just plausible enough that I didn't immediately clock it as satire.”
Ariella is a former journalist. She has a degree in media studies. And this still happened.
Because the reality is that we all fall for stuff sometimes.
The question is: what do we do about it?
This week's episode is about media literacy—practical, no-drama tools you can use between school drop-off and dinner to fact-check viral posts, spot fake images, and stop getting played by rage bait.
Ariella’s past life as a journalist and that degree in media studies make heractually qualified to talk about this (unlike me, who regularly falls for rage bait).
Listen to the Full Episode
Start Here: Misinformation vs. Disinformation (They're Not the Same)
Misinformation = False information that spreads regardless of intent.
Sometimes it's an honest mistake (like sharing a 2015 article you thought was new). Sometimes it's presenting info without full context (like saying "9 out of 10 kids at this school can't read" but not mentioning that 9 of those 10 kids are under age 5).
Disinformation = The purposeful spreading of false information to elicit a response.
This has malicious intent. It's designed to make you angry, scared, or outraged enough to share it.
Common Disinformation Tactics (So You Can Spot Them)
1. Recycled Images With New Captions
A photo of a car on fire gets shared as "California protest turned violent!" But the photo is actually from France. Several years ago.
2. Cropped or Manipulated Photos
A rally photo gets cropped to make it look like thousands of people showed up, when the full image shows only a few hundred.
3. AI-Generated Images
A fake image of your mayor throwing puppies in a river. (Yes, people make this stuff.)
How to spot AI images:
Look at hands (six fingers, two hands on one arm, weird placements)
Check for patterns that don't make sense (AI struggles with consistency)
Notice if faces are too smooth (like everyone's been airbrushed, even in street footage)
Zoom in on background details (things that melt into mush or don't align)
In videos, watch for objects that disappear mid-frame or physics that don't add up (like a dog jumping but never touching the ground).
4. Memeable Graphics With False Info
Easy-to-share infographics with fake stats, fake photos, and "Share if you agree!" at the bottom.
Rage Bait: The One Question That Changes Your Response
Before you share, comment, or even fully absorb that post that just spiked your blood pressure, ask yourself:
"Do I have more feelings than facts about this issue?"
This question—which Ariella pulled from Dr. Gabriel Cruz, a media literacy professor—is a speed bump for your brain.
If you have more feelings than facts, pause. Then go look for the facts.
The Fast Fact-Check Workflow
You don't need to lose your whole evening to this. Here's the quick version:
Step 1: Check the Source
Does the post include a named source? If yes, does the info match what the source actually says?
(You'd be surprised how often it doesn't.)
Step 2: Reverse Image Search
Right-click the image (or use Google Lens on mobile). See if you can find the original. Does the context match?
Step 3: Look for Multiple Angles
For protests, disasters, major events—there should be multiple photos from different people. If there's only one, that's a red flag.
Step 4: Search "[Event] + Fact Check"
Add a recent date. Example: "California protest fact check March 2026."
Reputable outlets often debunk viral claims quickly. Look for phrases like "could not independently verify"—that means they had enough info to report on it, but couldn't source it themselves yet.
Step 5: Look for Inconsistencies
Zoom in. Check backgrounds. Watch for things that don't make logical sense, like mouths that don't move with the words or perfectly clean/airbrushed sidewalks.
Which Sources Can You Actually Trust?
Start here:
AP, Reuters, NPR, BBC – Recognized news organizations with editorial standards
Official government websites
Academic institutions and research databases
Red flags:
Financial conflicts of interest (like wellness influencers saying "don't vaccinate" while selling $80 unregulated vitamin bottles)
Opinion presented as fact (opinion has a place, but it should be clearly labeled)
Missing perspectives (Who's included in this story? Whose voice is left out?)
Important note: You don't have to agree with a source's political lean to recognize it as reputable. Focus on editorial standards and track record for corrections.
Why AI Summaries Aren't Fact-Checks
AI summaries are predictions pulled from the same mixed bag of sources you're trying to fact-check.
They might pull from legit material, but they're also pulling from the fake stuff.
If you glance at one: Click through to the sources it cites and vet them yourself.
Better approach: Bookmark 3-5 reputable sources so you're not starting from scratch every time.
How This Connects to Civic Engagement
If you're going to write your representatives, you want receipts.
Link to bills. Quote accurately. Include sources.
Ariella's approach: She emails her reps (rather than calling) so she can cite sources. When they send back form emails with questionable claims, she fact-checks their form emails and replies with corrections.
"It's the petty method, but I love a nice petty moment."
The bigger point: If you're going to be mad about something, be mad for the factual reasons. Not the rage bait reasons.
Don't Feed the Rage Bait
Rage bait exists for one reason: engagement.
The person who posted it wants you to comment, share, argue. That boosts their post in the algorithm. Then they sell you something or spread more misinformation.
The most radical act is often refusing to amplify a lie.
Block and move on. Don't give it your attention. Don't give it the algorithm boost.
Teaching Media Literacy to Your Kids
All of this is teachable to teens and even younger kids.
Model it in front of them:
Say out loud when you were wrong about something
Show how you corrected course with new information
Demonstrate that learning something new and changing your mind is how you grow
Key message: We can give people grace while also having higher standards overall.
Your Homework
Bookmark three reputable news sources
Practice the pause for one week: When you see something inflammatory, ask "Do I have more feelings than facts?"
Learn to reverse image search (it takes 30 seconds and will save you so much time and frustration)
The Bottom Line
Media moves fast, but your judgment doesn't have to.
One grounding question—"Do I have more feelings than facts?"—flips your brain from react to reflect.
From there, it's just a few fast checks: source, verify, consider motives.
Small, steady choices make your feed calmer, your conversations saner, and your advocacy sharper.
No leather-clad professor required. 😉 Just a pause and a plan.
Listen to the full episode with Ariella for more examples, more red flags, and her story about almost posting that Onion article.
Sources & Mentions
Media Literacy Creators
Dr. Gabriel Cruz: GacruzPhD | Instagram, TikTok | Linktree
Abbi Richards: Links — Abbie Richards
Prof. Casey Fiesler: Professor Casey Fiesler (@professorcasey) | TikTok
General Resources
Recommended News Sources
AP, Reuters, NPR, BBC, official government websites
What's Next
Next episode: Democracy in the minivan—turning everyday moments into digestible civics lessons for kids. Subscribe so you don't miss it.
Make good choices, love you, mean it,
Caitlin (and Ariella)
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