Media Literacy

Featured

  • Images of two White woman with a third image of their faces combined in the center, photo by FotografieLink/Getty Images

    Commentary

    America May Not Be Ready for the Looming Tsunami of Deepfakes

    Images and videos have been falsified since the first photographs were taken. But deepfakes are fundamentally different. Their realism, and the scale and ease with which they can be produced, make them incredibly potent disinformation tools.

    Nov 10, 2022

  • Icons and lights coming out of a cell phone on a flat surface, photo by David Peperkamp/Getty Images

    Commentary

    How Can Platforms Deal with Toxic Content? Look to Wall Street

    Social media has a content problem. It's not the content itself, although the list of toxic material is long. The problem is the sheer volume of content. Instead of trusting in self-regulation, the United States could use its regulation of Wall Street after 2008 as a roadmap for regulating tech.

    May 26, 2023

Explore Media Literacy

  • Dissertation

    Dissertation

    Moving Enough People Enough: Assessing the Effectiveness of Disinformation Through the Adoption of Disinformation Rhetoric

    Assesses the effects of COVID-19 disinformation narratives on behavioral outcomes, particularly vaccine uptake and ivermectin consumption.

    Oct 31, 2023

  • Image released by the Israel Defense Forces on Oct 29, 2023 shows its ground operation in the Gaza Strip, photo by EyePress News/Reuters

    Commentary

    Lies, Misinformation Play Key Role in Israel-Hamas Fight

    At the strategic level, the war in Gaza is about perception, telling a story about who is the victim and who is the aggressor. Lies, mistruths, and disinformation will play a key and continuing role in this fight.

    Oct 31, 2023

  • Social media applications on a smartphone screen, photo by P. Kijsanayothin/Getty Images

    Commentary

    Protecting Free Speech Compels Some Form of Social Media Regulation

    Given the profound challenges posed by social media, corrective measures need to go beyond “deplatforming” bad apples. But how can the United States make such a structural change without compromising the democratic tradition of free speech?

    Oct 20, 2023

  • RAND Weekly Recap

    Blog

    Nuclear Deterrence, Russia and Iran, Deepfakes: RAND Weekly Recap

    This weekly recap focuses on how much is “enough” for U.S. nuclear forces, the budding Russia-Iran partnership, the challenge of detecting deepfakes, and more.

    Oct 6, 2023

  • (l-r) Ryan Graves, David Grusch, and David Fravor attend a U.S. House of Representatives hearing on “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency” in Washington, D.C., July 26, 2023, photo by Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

    Commentary

    UFO Research Is Only Harmed by Antigovernment Rhetoric

    There is an undercurrent of conspiracy theory and, relatedly, antigovernment sentiment brewing around the issue of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). If it grows, it could prove toxic to any factual and scientific discussion of UAPs.

    Sep 22, 2023

  • Journal Article

    Journal Article

    Deepfakes and Scientific Knowledge Dissemination

    We field the first study to understand the vulnerabilities of education stakeholders to science deepfakes and the characteristics that moderate vulnerability.

    Aug 23, 2023

  • Man seen from behind sitting in a chair and looking at a wall with a line drawing of an entertainment center with a TV showing two people with their noses growing long signifying that they're lying, photo by SIphotography/Getty Images

    Commentary

    Truth Decay and National Security

    Even if the U.S. national security apparatus can operate entirely outside of politics, it remains exposed to the effects of Truth Decay—the diminishing role of facts and analysis in American public life. Little work is being done to understand how severe the impact of Truth Decay is on national security and, more importantly, how to mitigate it.

    Aug 1, 2023

  • ChatGPT, an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, is seen on its website in this illustration picture taken in Beijing, China, February 9, 2023, photo by Florence Lo/Reuters

    Commentary

    ChatGPT Is Creating New Risks for National Security

    Large language models like ChatGPT and Claude offer a wide range of beneficial applications. But there are significant risks associated with their use that demand a coordinated effort among partner nations to forge a solid, integrated defense against the threat of malign information operations.

    Jul 20, 2023

  • The U.S. Capitol at sunset on the eve of the first anniversary of the January 6, 2021 attack on the building, in Washington, D.C., January 5, 2022, photo by Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

    Essay

    Truth Decay Is Putting U.S. National Security at Risk

    Truth Decay—the diminishing role of facts and analysis in public life—could weaken the U.S. military, costs America credibility with its allies, and calls into question the nation's ability to respond to the next big crisis. How can the United States guard against these risks?

    Jun 28, 2023

  • Green face peering out of machine code on cell phone, photo by Devrimb/Getty Images

    Commentary

    The AI Conspiracy Theories Are Coming

    Artificial intelligence is a technology ready-made for conspiratorial thinking. The time to counter conspiracy theories about AI is now—before they take hold in the minds of the public.

    Jun 22, 2023

  • Hand holding up a phone with a COVID-19 news update news page, photo by svetikd/Getty Images

    Commentary

    The Changing Landscape of Health Literacy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

    With the official public health emergency ended, now is a good time to reflect on the changing landscape of health literacy and consider how we can improve health communication in the future.

    May 9, 2023

  • ChatGPT logo in an illustration from March 31, 2023 ,photo by Dado Ruvic/Reuters, photo by Dado Ruvic/Reuters

    Commentary

    ChatGPT's Work Lacks Transparency and That Is a Problem

    In a world with Large Language Models such as ChatGPT, there is a growing need for modernized data literacy. Developers need to be more transparent about their algorithms and data sources so that people can assess the inherent sources of bias or problems with the approach.

    May 8, 2023

  • Ray Block, photo courtesy of Penn State

    Announcement

    Ray Block Joins RAND as Inaugural Michael D. Rich Chair for Countering Truth Decay

    Ray Block, a respected academic in the field of political science and African American studies, will join the RAND Corporation as its inaugural Michael D. Rich Chair for Countering Truth Decay effective February 27.

    Feb 22, 2023

  • Abstract representation of civic infrastructure, image by CSA-Printstock/Getty Images, design by Pete Soriano/RAND Corporation

    Report

    Defining and Measuring Civic Infrastructure

    Is the United States in a civic crisis? Or is American democracy simply evolving? A framework for defining and measuring civic infrastructure can help answer these questions—and preserve a healthy democracy.

    Nov 30, 2022

  • RAND Weekly Recap

    Blog

    Dementia Rates, Deepfakes, Migrant Students: RAND Weekly Recap

    This weekly recap focuses on the decline of dementia rates among Americans, the dangers of deepfakes, data privacy after the reversal of Roe v. Wade, and more.

    Nov 18, 2022

  • Periodical

    Periodical

    RAND Review: November-December 2022

    Features explore an innovative fellowship for military veterans, spouses, and caregivers; how veterans fare in the civilian labor market after leaving the military; and the impact of racism on patient safety in health care settings.

    Oct 31, 2022

  • Hands typing on a laptop keyboard at night, photo by Zhanna Danilova/Getty Images

    Announcement

    Fake RAND Report on 'Weakening Germany'

    A supposedly leaked RAND report about a bizarre U.S. conspiracy to “weaken Germany” is fake. Genuine RAND research, analysis, and commentary on the war in Ukraine may be found at rand.org.

    Sep 14, 2022

  • RAND Weekly Recap

    Blog

    Veterans Health Care, Media Literacy, Sleep Retreats: RAND Weekly Recap

    This weekly recap focuses on the challenges of VA community care, the importance of improving middle schoolers' media literacy skills, tips to improve sleep, and more.

    Sep 9, 2022

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