Class Activity
Let's try applying the SIFT method to a series of sources. For this activity, your table will be assigned either Source Set 1 or Source Set 2. As a group, work on applying each step of the SIFT method to each one of the four sources in your set. You'll need about 3-5 minutes per source.
As you apply the SIFT method to each of your four sources, consider the following questions:
- Does the author of this source have authority? Why or why not?
- Does the source share citations and/or references?
- How could this source be used appropriately as a source in a paper, project, or assignment?
Set 1: Instagram fashion brands and the environment/greenwashing
- @conversationswithjustice. (2022, October 19). Rachael on Instagram: “Shared via @environment SHEIN creates so many new products daily” Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj5N8rSOQ1l/
- Meyersohn, M., & Toh, N. (2023, April 24). ‘Too good to be true?’ As Shein and Temu take off, so does the scrutiny. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/23/tech/temu-shein-us-concerns-intl-hnk/index.html
- Sailer, A., Wilfing, H., & Straus, E. (2022). Greenwashing and Bluewashing in Black Friday-Related Sustainable Fashion Marketing on Instagram. Sustainability, 14(3), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031494
- St. Martin, E. (2021, August 31). This Latest Instagram Shopping Scam Is Egregious. InStyle. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/latest-instagram-shopping-scam-egregious-181914470.html
Set 2: Climate Change and Social Media
- @therealanthonybratts. (2023, March 5). Dean Brady on Instagram: “#climate #climatechange” Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpaGEsDLEJp/
- Guynn, J. (2024, January 19). Science vs. social media: Why climate change denial still thrives online. USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2024/01/19/climate-change-denial-spreading-social-media/72257689007/
- Samantray, A., & Pin, P. (2019). Credibility of climate change denial in social media. Palgrave Communications, 5(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-019-0344-4
- Watts, A. (2024, June 25). No, Mainstream Media, “Extreme” Wildfires Are Not on The Rise Due to Climate Change. ClimateRealism. https://climaterealism.com/2024/06/no-mainstream-media-extreme-wildfires-are-not-on-the-rise-due-to-climate-change/
This activity is adapted from "Influencers and #infolit: Critical library instruction through a lens of social media and popular culture," presented by Jesus Espinoza and Naomi Binnie of the University of Michigan at the MiALA 2023 Annual Conference
