misinformation

Chances are your phone is lying to you.

From viral hoaxes to AI-generated lies, deep-fake videos to bot-built news articles, online misinformation runs rampant across screens. Every day we’re flooded with content that’s designed to manipulate, mislead, and monetize our attention.

It’s important to recognize how easily misinformation spreads so you can build better screen habits to reduce exposure to false information and reclaim clarity in a noisy digital world.

So, how do we trade trends for truth? Let’s start by looking up and keeping sharp.

trending doesn’t make it true

Take the Presence Pedge

save the date

March 1 -31

online

Join us for TRUTH QUEST. How sharp are your sleuth skills? Stay tuned for the March Misinformation challenge that will test your skills in spotting reality from AI generated content and facts from fake news.  More details coming soon!

View Event

false facts. fake feeds.
real-life consequences.

Being misled is only the surface issue. Smartphone addiction and unchecked screen time take a real emotional and cognitive toll on you and the people around you.

TRUTH: Misinformation online is designed to manipulate your attention, and your emotions.

HARDER TRUTH: The more time we spend scrolling, the more distorted our view of reality becomes.

SOLUTION: Unplug, think more critically, and build healthy social habits that protect truth and foster emotional well-being.

BOTTOM LINE: Log off. Look up. Keep sharp. Seek truth.

why misinformation matters

Our brains are wired to seek patterns, meaning, and connection. But when those patterns are built by algorithms, and the meaning is manufactured by bots, we lose our grip on what’s really real.

Misinformation confuses us, divides us, erodes trust, fuels anxiety and undermines our ability to make informed decisions. And when constant social media use takes a toll on our mental wellbeing, our relationships suffer. That breakdown spreads through our communities. And worse, it confuses and hurts our kids.

In many ways, the ship has sailed. The internet isn’t going back to the harbor. But that doesn’t mean we’re adrift.

• We can be smarter, sharper, and savvier with how we approach screen time and the misinformation that inherently comes with it.

• We can recognize how smartphones hook our attention and start breaking the patterns that keep us stuck.

• We can choose to unplug and reconnect with the reality that lives beyond our screens.

stay sharp + be a truth defender

Being a truth defender means recognizing that digital literacy and healthy screen habits are forms of protection.

TRUTH DEFENDERS:

• Question what you see online.

• Learn to spot fake news.

• Model critical thinking and fact-checking.

• Set boundaries with screen time.

• Encourage real-world conversations.

Take the Pledge

there is no clarity without truth

fast facts

70% of Americans have encountered false or misleading news online

— World Metrics

Dig Deeper: Read Real Research

community voices

  • "I find myself experiencing a lot of anger and frustration and hopelessness as a result of looking at FB and IG posts because of the amount of negative news and increasing amount of fake AI-created content that is warping the fabric of reality."

    — Oshkosh parent

  • "Misinformation doesn’t just confuse… it also divides us. It is important for our kids and ourselves to discern facts from false news by asking questions and checking the source of the information."

    — Oshkosh parent

  • "We all play a part in stopping misinformation. By asking questions and sharing facts, we protect our children and our community from believing things that are simply not true."

    — Oshkosh resident

find your truth

    • Create phone-free fact-checking routines

    • talk about what’s real vs. what’s viral

    • Lead by example with your own screen boundaries

    • Pause before you share

    • Use fact-checking tools and sources

    • Remember: Not everything trending is true

    • Encourage media literacy in classrooms

    • Address misinformation in wellness programs

    • Support colleagues who set digital boundaries