Fake news – it’s a term thrown around constantly, but what exactly is it, and how do we identify it in the ever-evolving digital landscape?
Unlike harmless misinformation, fake news is deliberately fabricated content disguised as legitimate news, often with the intent to mislead, manipulate or sow discord. These fabricated stories can originate from various sources, making it crucial to develop a critical eye when consuming online information.
Fake news comes in many forms, each designed to exploit our emotions and biases. Here are some common types to be aware of:
Clickbait : Sensational headlines designed to lure viewers into clicking on a link, often leading to misleading or irrelevant content.
Fabricated Content : Entirely invented stories presented as factual news reports.
Misleading Headlines : Headlines that distort the actual content of the story.
Out-of-Context Content : Taking legitimate information and presenting it in a way that misrepresents its meaning.
Satire or Parody Misinterpreted as Fact : Humorous content mistakenly taken as genuine news.
The power of fake news lies in its ability to exploit social media algorithms and our cognitive biases. Social media platforms prioritize engagement, meaning content that evokes strong emotions – anger, fear, or outrage – tends to spread more rapidly. This creates an environment where fake news, often sensational and inflammatory, can gain traction quickly.
Confirmation bias plays a role also. We tend to gravitate towards information confirming our beliefs, making us more susceptible to fake news that aligns with our worldview.
The consequences of fake news can be far-reaching. It can erode trust in legitimate media sources, exacerbate social divisions, and influence elections.
Examples of fake news
Hundreds of websites posted extremely biased or fraudulent stories during the 2016 US election campaign, many of them to profit from social media advertising revenue. This is how the phrase “fake news” gained widespread usage.
Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, several instances of fake news created a favorable environment for spreading misleading information online. The idea that 5G technology was connected to the virus’s propagation on social media is a recurring example of fake news. This is allegedly because 5G weakened the immune system as the infection traveled via radio waves. Even after official sources refuted these false allegations on multiple occasions, they continued to be widely disseminated.
The internet went crazy over the complete solar eclipse that was predicted to cover tens of millions of American homes in darkness on April 8. Millions of people traveled to see the phenomena, but some were convinced there was a sinister connection between the eclipse and something evil.
As with the claim that the sun and moon aren’t truly aligned, conspiracy theories connecting the eclipse to a portal opening and a “sex magic ritual” gained widespread traction.
Top Tips to Spot Fake News
Brittney Smith is the senior manager of education partnership for the News Literacy Project (NLP), a non-partisan education nonprofit building a national movement to create a more news-literate America.
She says there are several red flags you should spot when scrolling online. AI (Artificial Intelligence) bots that creates videos and images making it difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is computer-generated. Manipulative texts and doctored photographs take meanings out of context. The more you engage, the more the algorithm pushes similar content.
NLP provides resources such as Checkology, a free e-learning platform with engaging, authoritative lessons on news media bias, misinformation, conspiratorial thinking, and more. Learners gain the capacity to recognize trustworthy information, look for trustworthy sources, and use critical thinking techniques to distinguish between fake information and fact-based content.
“Black people have had a contentious history with the news and media due to unfair and biased coverage,” she said. “The lesson equips learners to go out and create change, whether through amplifying others’ voices or using their own voice to talk about what’s happening in their communities”.
Combating fake news requires vigilance and a critical approach to online information. Here are some strategies you can use.
Source Check : Only trust some things you see online! Look for established, reputable news organizations as your source. Check a website’s “About Us” section for its background and editorial policies.
Investigate the Author: Who wrote the article? Are they a credible journalist with a history of accurate reporting?
Scrutinize the Headline : Is the headline sensationalized or misleading? Does it accurately reflect the content of the article?
Fact-Check : Use fact-checking resources like Snopes or PolitiFact to verify information.
Cross-Reference: Look for coverage of the same story from multiple credible sources. Do their accounts align?
Check for Biases : Be aware of your own biases and the potential biases of the source. Is the article presenting a balanced view?
Beware of Emotional Triggers : If an article evokes a strong emotional response, take a step back and question its validity before sharing it.
“It’s important to note that most people sharing misinformation are sharing it unknowingly,” Smith said. “They want to warn people, share perspectives, and make sense of what’s happening in the world, and unfortunately, when people need answers, we seek out information anywhere we can find it.”
