Algorithms
What it means:
Rules used by social media apps to decide what posts and videos you see.
Example:
If you watch lots of political videos, the app may show you more of them.
Bias
What it means:
When information is presented in a way that supports one side more than another or someone forming opinions without enough evidence.
Example:
A news post that only shows the positives of one political party but ignores the negatives.
Bot
What it means:
A social media account run by a computer program instead of a real person.
Example:
Bots might post or share the same political message many times to make it look popular.
Clickbait
What it means:
Online posts or headlines designed to get lots of clicks, often by exaggerating or leaving out key facts.
Example:
“YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT THIS POLITICIAN DID!”
Credible Source
What it means:
Information that comes from a trustworthy place that checks facts carefully.
Example:
Established news organisations, official election websites or expert researchers.
Disinformation
What it means:
False information shared on purpose to mislead people.
Example:
Someone creating a fake story about an election to influence voters.
Echo Chamber
What it means:
An online space where you mostly see opinions that are the same as your own.
Example:
Your social media feed only shows posts from people who support the same political party.
Fact-Checking
What it means:
The process of checking whether information is true.
Example:
Looking at trusted news sites to see if a viral claim is accurate.
“Fake News”
What it means:
Stories that look like real news but are completely made up or very misleading. This can also be known as misinformation and disinformation.
Example:
A fake website pretending to be a news outlet.
Influence Campaign
What it means:
An organised effort to change people’s opinions, often online.
Example:
Groups spreading certain political messages across many social media accounts.
Misinformation
What it means:
False or incorrect information that is shared without meaning to mislead.
Example:
Someone reposts an inaccurate election date because they thought it was true.
Political Advertising
What it means:
Paid messages promoting a political party, candidate or issue.
Example:
Sponsored posts on social media before an election.
Propaganda
What it means:
Information designed to strongly influence people’s opinions, sometimes by leaving out important facts.
Example:
A message that only shows one side of an issue to make it seem like the only correct view.
Rage bait
What it means:
Internet slang for when someone will try to get a reaction or engagement, typically done through creating content or comments online.
Example:
Someone posts a video online about something controversial, purely to make people leave angry comments which as a result gets the video more views and engagement.
Source
What it means:
Where information originally comes from.
Example:
A news article might list government reports or interviews as sources.
Troll
What it means:
Someone who posts upsetting or extreme comments online to start arguments or spread confusion.
Example:
Posting false political claims just to make people angry.
Turnout
What it means:
The number of people who actually vote in an election.
Example:
If many young people vote, youth turnout is high.
Voter Registration
What it means:
Signing up officially so you are allowed to vote in elections.
Example:
In Scotland, most people must register before voting.
Viral
What it means:
Content that spreads very quickly online.
Example:
A misleading political video shared thousands of times.