Task 4c: The dangers of misinformation and disinformation

Understand the task

In the Vår 2022 exam set for Engelsk fellesfag SF, Task 4c requires you to write a text in which you reflect on the dangers of misinformation and disinformation in relation to a quote you are given from American singer Lady Gaga. The quote seems to say that she is deliberately telling a lie so people would keep repeating it until it becomes the truth. You must also reflect on how individuals and society can address the challenges of misinformation and disinformation.

You must include information and examples from the preparation materials and/or other sources.

Hints for completing the task

Here we give you some inspiration on how to discuss the quote and reflect on the challenges of misinformation and disinformation.

Make sure you quote specific lines from the preparation material to back up your discussion.

The quote

The quote by Lady Gaga implies that someone can tell lies deliberately knowing that they will be considered true if people repeat them enough. This is directly connected to how quickly information spreads nowadays with the help of social media and other online platforms. This has given rise to misinformation, disinformation, and fake news, all of which are damaging to today’s society.

When analyzing the quote, consider that lies can still cause damage even if they are not true. You can think of more concrete examples, such as many people believing something bad about a person and repeating it enough so that it damages their reputation. 

The preparation material and other sources

A good place to start is to determine which texts from the preparation material deal with misinformation and disinformation. 

Text 2 of the preparation material is called “Navigating the Web” and deals with the various stages of false information that can be found on the internet. I...