Congratulations! You’re a Disinformation Target. 6 Ways to Head Off the Deception

This piece is about disinformation, not home energy upgrades, so there's nothing here about equipment, rebates, or your house. Still, since it touches on public trust and information, here's what it says.

The article, tied to Union of Concerned Scientists, argues that with the 2026 midterms approaching, everyone is a target for false claims spread online, whether about elections, immigration, or extreme weather. It points to the 2024 example of a baseless rumor about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, that spread widely and was amplified by political figures. The author lays out ways to prepare: warn people ahead of time about likely lies ("prebunking"), pick trustworthy sources for specific topics before you need them (state election offices, the National Weather Service, established health or legal groups), learn the common tricks used to mislead (edited photos, real events stripped of context, exaggerated incidents) rather than trying to memorize every false claim, and avoid re-sharing inflammatory content even to mock it, since that spreads it further.

The piece also notes that online advertising, now over $1 trillion a year globally, funds much of this system, and that advertisers, platforms, and ordinary readers all have some leverage to push for more transparency and support reliable journalism. None of this involves specific programs, rebates, or technical guidance for homeowners.