First you have to define "fake news" as well as "misinformation"? Who gets to judge and how does "misinformation" differ from opinion?
Who get's to judge what is fake news and misinformation?
We all do. There are 6 ways you can use to spot fake news. This is how creditable news services and people that really need to know the truth do it. Those that create false news depend on the fact that most readers are to lazy to check out the story.
1. Ask Yourself, "Why Has This Story Been Written?
Is it to persuade me to accept a certain viewpoint? Is it selling me a particular product? Or is it trying to get me to click through to another website? Am I being triggered?
2. Check the Source.
Check the web address for the page you're reading. Spelling errors in company names, or strange-sounding extensions like ".infonet" and ".offer," rather than ".com" or ".co.uk," may mean that the source is suspect.
Then check whether or not the author or publisher is familiar, stop to consider their reputation and professional experience. Are they known for their
expertise on the matter? Or do they tend to exaggerate?
Be aware that people who spread fake news and "alternative facts" sometimes create web pages, newspaper mockups, or "doctored" images that look official, but aren't. So, if you see a suspicious post that looks like it's from the World Health Organization (WHO), for example, check the WHO's own site to verify that it's really there.
3. See Who Else is Reporting the Story.
Avoid leaping to the conclusion that all main stream media (MSM) output is fake. This can be as unwise as following every rumor or conspiracy theory.
Professional global news agencies such as Reuters, CNN and the BBC have rigorous editorial guidelines and extensive networks of highly trained reporters, so are a good place to start. But no one is unbiased, and anyone can make a mistake, so keep looking.
4. Examine the Evidence.
A credible news story will include plenty of facts – quotes from experts, survey data and official statistics, for example. Or detailed, consistent and corroborated eye-witness accounts from people on the scene. If these are missing, question it!
Does the evidence prove that something definitely happened? Or, have the facts been selected or "twisted" to back up a particular viewpoint?
5. Don't Take Images at Face Value
Modern editing software has made it easy for people to create fake images that look real. In fact,
research shows that only half of us can tell when images are fake. However, there are some warning signs you can look out for. Strange shadows on the image, for example, or jagged edges around a figure.
Images can also be 100 percent accurate but used in the wrong context. For example, photos of litter covering a beach could be from a different beach or from 10 years ago, not the recent alleged event.
You can use tools such as
Google Reverse Image Search to check where an image originated and whether it has been altered.
6. Check that It Sounds Right
Finally, use your common sense! Bear in mind that fake news is designed to "feed" your biases, hopes or fears.
For example, it's unlikely that your favorite designer brand is giving away a million free dresses to people who turn up to its stores. Equally, just because your colleague believes that two married co-workers are having an affair, doesn't mean it's true.
Fake news can destroy trust, damage learning culture, and sap curiosity. Make sure you know how to tell fact from fiction using these six steps.
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