ReadFlag Class Project
ReadFlag, in its initial phase, is a Facebook plugin that validates the memes, statistics and articles that make up a newsfeed. The ReadFlag interface overlays clicked posts to provide a more in-depth look at the information disseminated throughout Facebook. Falsely attributed quotes, fake statistics, inaccurate memes and propaganda masked as “news” are up for verification using ReadFlags proposed web bot combined with in-house moderators and a user driven ranking system.
The ReadFlag interface provides options for three different actions: Verfiy, Inform and Share. The Verify tab “ReadFlags,” questionable information, and when a user hovers their cursor over the flag, more information is revealed, whether that is facts disputing the claim, or links to reliable sites that dispute the claim. This makes use of sites like Snopes that already exist to “debunk,” inaccuracies. Public figures are also “ReadFlagged,” through the Verify section. A ranking system from a red flag, to a yellow flag to a green flag, with accompanying information when a cursor pauses over the flag, helps users get a sense of the reliability of the source of not just the article itself, but also of the person who shared the article.
The Inform tab allows users to contribute their own information and “ReadFlags,” to the site. Information added by users is itself yellow flagged until further verification from moderators and other user’s. The share tab allows ReadFlag users to share “ReadFlagged” posts with other Facebook users who have not opted in to the plugin.
ReadFlag is not intended to filter out unwanted or biased news, instead it acts as a lens to view information in a new light. It provides more facts and perspectives to help users make up their own minds about the information they are bombarded with on a daily basis. The more users are informed, the more choices they have in constructing their world view.
[Project Partners: Elana Blinder, Jillian Halpern, Grant Henry, Michelle Lazaro, Jiayan Li]