10 Examples of Media Manipulation and 10 Ways to Spot It

Real vs fake. Can you identify? Try!

On 16 May 2022 was a total moon eclipse. It was visible here, in Swakopmund. This was the longest total lunar eclipse since 1989 was visible in Africa. Next total lunar eclipse will be visible in Namibia on the 7th September 2025.

There are so many techniques or strategies of the media manipulation but I want to show you some examples described with this phenomen.

Media manipulation is a series of related techniques in which partisans create an image or argument that favours their particular interests. Such tactics may include the use of logical fallacies, manipulation, outright deception (disinformation), rhetorical and propaganda techniques etc.

Thanks to the media paraphernalia and propaganda, have been created even given the phenomenon of media as producers of reality within the collective psyche (it has now been well demonstrated by the russians and those who continue to listen to russian news - these people are living in a parallel world).

Here are 10 True or False Questions (+answers). Try to guess. Do not peek!

1.

Original or False?

Original

This is a real photo (16 May 2022 — Total Lunar Eclipse).

It is very easy to believe that this is true. That is how we see it with the naked eye.

But! Do you believe me? Was the moon exactly on the ocean side? What time was the photograph taken? Search for details!

But in this case it's really true.

2.

Original or False?

False

This is a combination of the two my photos. Yes, this full moon, yes, this is twilight.

But! It's not a Swakopmund and it's sunset. This photo has nothing to do with that moon eclipse.

It's hard to tell here. Perhaps it was a moonrise near Swakopmund where there is a mountain, but unless you know its shape exactly, you can hardly tell if it is true or false. In this case it's worth looking for more evidence.

3.

Original or manipulation?

This is also a real photo. Such a photo can be taken even with a mobile phone by using zoom.

The moon was going down over the horizon in the west at dawn not yet completely clear of its eclipse. If you know this info, you can easily determine that this is true.

4.

Original or False?

False

This is an original photo. This is my photo. This is eclipse.

But! This is solar eclipse! And this photo was taken in 2020...

So this photo has nothing to do with described phenomen.

But it's actually very hard to determine that this isn't the moon eclipse of that day. Perhaps the colour would lead you to assume that the photo was taken at sunset rather than sunrise. But in this case it's worth to search for more information.

5.

Real or photo manipulation?

This is a combination of the two my photos. And the direction where the moon was setting is correct.

But! The background photo was taken in the evening, and it was not the moon set but the sunset.

The moon was not visible at this level that morning. And the total eclipse was at 6am at 16 degrees. Knowing this information, you can easily determine that this is real manipulation.

6.

Original or False?

Original

This is also an original photo but the emphasis is wrong. Thus it may appear that the visible part of the moon was on the bottom right, while the main part of the moon (which should have been shown) is obscured.

Such manipulations are very common in the media when, for example, they want to whitewash or otherwise show a person on the worse side. Look for alternative sources. View the situation from different angles.

7.

Real or manipulation?

False

This is also a composite of two photos I took that morning.

But! The moon is overlaid on the place where the sun is on the original photo. And that's not right at all. I mean, it's all turned exactly 180 degrees.

Yes, it's hard to identify as there's not enough info in the photo. Such roofs can be anywhere. But it's really dangerous. So it's worth looking for more details.

8.

Original or Fake?

Original

We often find it hard to believe what we cannot see with the naked eye. However, this picture is true. And despite the fact that there is also little information in this photo, nevertheless, if you have ever been to Swakopmund, you will not forget this jetty. Take the binoculars and you will see the exact result. And what beautiful stars you can see through a telescope. And by the way, don't forget that Namibia is one of the top three countries where the starry sky is best for observation.

9.

Real or photo manipulation?

False

This is a composite of two my photos.

In this photo, the moon is overlaid on the sun again, but not only that, the background photo was not taken on that day. And it even looks unnatural, but a lot of people would believe this.

There is a very crude manipulation here, you just have to know where there is east - where there is west. The moon sets in the west and at the time of moonrise there was no eclipse.

Such manipulations are usually used by the self-righteous media and are intended on the fact that a person simply trusts the source, and is not going to find out something somewhere else.

10.

Original or False?

False

And this one is the most incredibly.

At first, this is not mine! Secondly this is not Swakopmund. And last but not least - this is a solar eclipse...

How can you guess? First of all, it is not signed. However, some totally dishonest media outlets might put their logo on it, so it's not always worth paying attention to either. Look for the original source, look for other photos and you will see that neither the colour nor the direction is correct.

But still some people will belive...

How many correct answers did you get?

Search for more manipulation techniques and fight with a manipulation which very often is equal to a lie.

Keep in mind that no tools is perfect. Always do multiply searches with different tools.

Here is the sequence of images of the total lunar eclipse on 16 May 2022 was put on one original photo taken that night. Here you can see how the moon was setting and how the phases of eclipse were visible in Swakopmund.

If you find this type of information and the source is credible, you can easily determine whether all the other photos are true or not.

1. Be mindful of the source

Online platforms have different standards, so stories that seem credible should still be observed critically.

2. Be critical of the content

Consider why this story was shared and read beyond the headline. If the content cites a credible source, check whether the citation is true. You can also use fact-check tools if you’re unsure about a particular topic.

3. Review the comments

Comments could play a bigger role in disinformation tactics than actual posts.

4. Identify its origin

Knowing where and when the information was captured determines whether visual media aligns with the timeframe or location described in the write-up. Be skeptical of media that doesn’t cite a visual’s original source.

5. Consider your own bias

Your own opinions and experiences influence how you perceive online media. Consider how your bias may interfere with content analysis.

6. Use reverse image search

Use a reverse image search engine to verify the media’s provenance. This helps identify if an old photo or video is being falsely reused.

Media manipulation is just one example of a top threat to modern democracies and public safety.