Category: Government / Topics: Credibility • Demographics • Government • Information Management • Management • Planning • Research Methodology
submitted by Stu Johnson
Posted: February 42, 2020
How the Census Bureau and its partners will combat the spread of false information…
The following story by Zack Schwartz was provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Click here to see the story with links to videos and other resources.
Every decade, technology plays a greater role in the way the census is conducted. But in 2020, the first time anyone who wants to respond to the census online has that option, the greatest change may come from the way all of us use technology.
For the first time during a decennial census, the majority of people in the United States are using digital and social media in their everyday lives.
“The rise of digital and social media use has exponentially increased the speed of how accurate and inaccurate information can spread,” said Stephen Buckner, assistant director for communications at the U.S. Census Bureau. “We know that many people may not know what the census is because it happens only every 10 years, making it a likely target for misinformation and disinformation campaigns, which is why we’ve been actively preparing to defend against them.”
The Census Bureau is ready for these challenges.
To prevent the spread of fake, false and inaccurate information, that can negatively influence 2020 Census participation and response, the Census Bureau has established the government’s first ever Trust & Safety Team to protect the count.
What we are doing:
These partnerships will help the Census Bureau counter false information that can lead to an undercount by quickly identifying phony information and respond with factual content.
More consumers than ever now receive their information from nontraditional sources. In fact, over the past few years, more people reported receiving their news from social media than from newspapers.
According to Pew Research, only 43% of people in the United States used social media during the last census in 2010, compared to 72% today.
You may dismiss what happens on social media but an analysis by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows it can influence our real-world behavior.
For example, imagine someone posts a message saying you are not required to respond to the census and should ignore all attempts to be counted. Or they share a post that suggests the Census Bureau will share your private data even though public disclosure is prohibited by law.
The person posting such misinformation might be a trusted friend or family member who has shared the post with their friends and followers. The number of people who may, as a result, think that responding to the census is not required or become worried about privacy grows rapidly.
The post could spread, possibly leading to low census participation and an inaccurate count or undercount of certain population groups.
The stakes are high. Census results help communities get their fair share of billions of dollars in federal funds for schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs every year. The decennial census also helps determine congressional representation.
The Census Bureau will protect the count but can’t do it alone. You can help make a real difference in the outcome.
How?
Report inaccurate, suspicious or fraudulent information to the Census Bureau. If you see or hear something, tell us:
The 2020 Census will have implications for years to come. It is everyone’s responsibility to make sure we have an accurate count. Our communities depend on it. You can shape your future and the future of your community, today.
Zack Schwartz is the operations manager of the Trust & Safety Team and deputy division chief for the Center for New Media and Promotion at the Census Bureau.
This article was also posted on SeniorLifestyle.org, which is published by Stu Johnson.
Posted: February 42, 2020 Accessed 1,690 times
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Category: Government / Topics: Credibility • Demographics • Government • Information Management • Management • Planning • Research Methodology
submitted by Stu Johnson
Posted: February 42, 2020
How the Census Bureau and its partners will combat the spread of false information…
The following story by Zack Schwartz was provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Click here to see the story with links to videos and other resources.
Every decade, technology plays a greater role in the way the census is conducted. But in 2020, the first time anyone who wants to respond to the census online has that option, the greatest change may come from the way all of us use technology.
For the first time during a decennial census, the majority of people in the United States are using digital and social media in their everyday lives.
“The rise of digital and social media use has exponentially increased the speed of how accurate and inaccurate information can spread,” said Stephen Buckner, assistant director for communications at the U.S. Census Bureau. “We know that many people may not know what the census is because it happens only every 10 years, making it a likely target for misinformation and disinformation campaigns, which is why we’ve been actively preparing to defend against them.”
The Census Bureau is ready for these challenges.
To prevent the spread of fake, false and inaccurate information, that can negatively influence 2020 Census participation and response, the Census Bureau has established the government’s first ever Trust & Safety Team to protect the count.
What we are doing:
These partnerships will help the Census Bureau counter false information that can lead to an undercount by quickly identifying phony information and respond with factual content.
More consumers than ever now receive their information from nontraditional sources. In fact, over the past few years, more people reported receiving their news from social media than from newspapers.
According to Pew Research, only 43% of people in the United States used social media during the last census in 2010, compared to 72% today.
You may dismiss what happens on social media but an analysis by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows it can influence our real-world behavior.
For example, imagine someone posts a message saying you are not required to respond to the census and should ignore all attempts to be counted. Or they share a post that suggests the Census Bureau will share your private data even though public disclosure is prohibited by law.
The person posting such misinformation might be a trusted friend or family member who has shared the post with their friends and followers. The number of people who may, as a result, think that responding to the census is not required or become worried about privacy grows rapidly.
The post could spread, possibly leading to low census participation and an inaccurate count or undercount of certain population groups.
The stakes are high. Census results help communities get their fair share of billions of dollars in federal funds for schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs every year. The decennial census also helps determine congressional representation.
The Census Bureau will protect the count but can’t do it alone. You can help make a real difference in the outcome.
How?
Report inaccurate, suspicious or fraudulent information to the Census Bureau. If you see or hear something, tell us:
The 2020 Census will have implications for years to come. It is everyone’s responsibility to make sure we have an accurate count. Our communities depend on it. You can shape your future and the future of your community, today.
Zack Schwartz is the operations manager of the Trust & Safety Team and deputy division chief for the Center for New Media and Promotion at the Census Bureau.
This article was also posted on SeniorLifestyle.org, which is published by Stu Johnson.
Posted: February 42, 2020 Accessed 1,691 times
Go to the list of most recent InfoMatters Blogs
Search InfoMatters (You can expand the search to the entire site)
Category: Government / Topics: Credibility • Demographics • Government • Information Management • Management • Planning • Research Methodology
submitted by Stu Johnson
Posted: February 42, 2020
How the Census Bureau and its partners will combat the spread of false information…
The following story by Zack Schwartz was provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Click here to see the story with links to videos and other resources.
Every decade, technology plays a greater role in the way the census is conducted. But in 2020, the first time anyone who wants to respond to the census online has that option, the greatest change may come from the way all of us use technology.
For the first time during a decennial census, the majority of people in the United States are using digital and social media in their everyday lives.
“The rise of digital and social media use has exponentially increased the speed of how accurate and inaccurate information can spread,” said Stephen Buckner, assistant director for communications at the U.S. Census Bureau. “We know that many people may not know what the census is because it happens only every 10 years, making it a likely target for misinformation and disinformation campaigns, which is why we’ve been actively preparing to defend against them.”
The Census Bureau is ready for these challenges.
To prevent the spread of fake, false and inaccurate information, that can negatively influence 2020 Census participation and response, the Census Bureau has established the government’s first ever Trust & Safety Team to protect the count.
What we are doing:
These partnerships will help the Census Bureau counter false information that can lead to an undercount by quickly identifying phony information and respond with factual content.
More consumers than ever now receive their information from nontraditional sources. In fact, over the past few years, more people reported receiving their news from social media than from newspapers.
According to Pew Research, only 43% of people in the United States used social media during the last census in 2010, compared to 72% today.
You may dismiss what happens on social media but an analysis by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows it can influence our real-world behavior.
For example, imagine someone posts a message saying you are not required to respond to the census and should ignore all attempts to be counted. Or they share a post that suggests the Census Bureau will share your private data even though public disclosure is prohibited by law.
The person posting such misinformation might be a trusted friend or family member who has shared the post with their friends and followers. The number of people who may, as a result, think that responding to the census is not required or become worried about privacy grows rapidly.
The post could spread, possibly leading to low census participation and an inaccurate count or undercount of certain population groups.
The stakes are high. Census results help communities get their fair share of billions of dollars in federal funds for schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs every year. The decennial census also helps determine congressional representation.
The Census Bureau will protect the count but can’t do it alone. You can help make a real difference in the outcome.
How?
Report inaccurate, suspicious or fraudulent information to the Census Bureau. If you see or hear something, tell us:
The 2020 Census will have implications for years to come. It is everyone’s responsibility to make sure we have an accurate count. Our communities depend on it. You can shape your future and the future of your community, today.
Zack Schwartz is the operations manager of the Trust & Safety Team and deputy division chief for the Center for New Media and Promotion at the Census Bureau.
This article was also posted on SeniorLifestyle.org, which is published by Stu Johnson.
Posted: February 42, 2020 Accessed 1,692 times
Go to the list of most recent InfoMatters Blogs
Search InfoMatters (You can expand the search to the entire site)