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Protecting yourself from misinformation: What to know and how to spot it – MPR News

MPR News host Angela Davis (center), Lana Medina (left), a journalist, researcher and educator who teaches media literacy at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and Bob Groven (right), a professor and Co-Chair of the Department of Communication Studies, Film and New Media at Augsburg University, pose for a portrait at Minnesota Public Radio headquarters in St. Paul on Tuesday. Nikhil Kumaran | MPR News

MPR News with Angela Davis

By Angela Davis and Nikhil Kumaran, January 13, 2026 9:00 AM, Updated: January 13, 2026 12:18 PM

Protecting yourself from misinformation:
What to know and how to spot it

A young man looks at social media apps on his phone. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two experts about how technology is being used to mislead, what to question and how to avoid being fooled by fake images, videos and stories. Matt Cardy | Getty Images

Have you ever seen a social media post that was so captivating that you just had to share it?

Maybe it was a powerful video, a striking image or a headline that made you stop scrolling.

But was it true? In a world where artificial intelligence can generate photos, videos and even voices, it’s becoming harder to know what’s real and what isn’t.

In fact, it’s become so challenging to tell truth from fiction that many colleges are offering classes in how to spot misinformation and digital manipulation.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two professors about how technology is being used to mislead and how to avoid being fooled by fake images, videos and stories.