Hey all you cool cats & kittens! Now more than ever, accurate info is important… but ever harder to find amid a flood of online mis- and disinformation. So following @steak_umm's inspirational example, a guide to fighting fake mews using the PURR method, complete with cat gifs! pic.twitter.com/LCxtwV5Hb2
— Morris Animal Refuge (@MorrisAnimal) April 30, 2020
So are you ready?! pic.twitter.com/3NTLmhEubm
— Morris Animal Refuge (@MorrisAnimal) April 30, 2020
Did what you read shock you, or confirm exactly what you always thought? (eg: #Breaking: dogs drool, cats rule!) Did it seem written to make you furious, frightened, or feeling great in a maybe too good to be true way? That doesn't make it fake mews – but it could be a red flag. pic.twitter.com/tfDtqKVI3l
— Morris Animal Refuge (@MorrisAnimal) April 30, 2020
After all, it's a cat's job to plop down on newspapers or books, or get in peoples' way when they're trying to use the computer. Why? Because they're trying to slow us down to combat the spread of misinformation! pic.twitter.com/ZROsreUhmL
— Morris Animal Refuge (@MorrisAnimal) April 30, 2020
PURR step two: U for Use your head!
— Morris Animal Refuge (@MorrisAnimal) April 30, 2020
You have the cat-pacity to catch fake mews. Here, we'll ask you this. Our shelter gets a message from a Nigerian prince or similar who'll generously reward us for our help transferring a large sum of money out of the country. All we need is…
Read past the headline (many people don't) and think about what you're reading very carefully, like a cat being offered some really yummy food that might have a PILL from THE VET hidden inside… pic.twitter.com/1q42ZviuEG
— Morris Animal Refuge (@MorrisAnimal) April 30, 2020
What sort of evidence is there to support what is being claimed? Are there links, sources, references to studies or individuals, or does it ask you to take it on faith? (Remember, just because a post, meme, or video says something, that doesn't mean it's true.) pic.twitter.com/MlNDOCxW62
— Morris Animal Refuge (@MorrisAnimal) April 30, 2020
A great first stop when it comes to researching fake mews are professional fact-checking sites, like @snopes, @factcheckdotorg & @PolitiFact. Not only might they have done the work for you (cats approve!), but they show links + research so you can evaluate that work for yourself. pic.twitter.com/9Ft5j4GP4I
— Morris Animal Refuge (@MorrisAnimal) April 30, 2020
The internet's wide, & someone is always wrong on it. If you find fake mews shared by somebody you know, a friendly private message *might* clear things up. Friend or foe, few listen if they feel attacked – sometimes all one can do is leave the truth out, give them time, & hope. pic.twitter.com/mES9zIWFmc
— Morris Animal Refuge (@MorrisAnimal) April 30, 2020
There is good advice in this twitter thread. All illustrated with more adorable cat gifs.