What is fake news?
Fake news is false or misleading information that masquerades as a credible news story.
Fake news falls into two categories:
- Deliberately inaccurate stories – that is, the people who publish them know they are false but publish them anyway. This may be to manipulate public opinion or to drive traffic to a particular website.
- Stories that contain elements of truth but are broadly inaccurate. This may be because the author did not check all the facts or exaggerated certain aspects to draw attention to a particular issue.
Where does fake news come from?
Fake news is nothing new. What is new, however, is the ease with which information – both true and false – can be shared on a mass scale.
Social platforms allow almost anyone to publish their thoughts or share stories with the world. The trouble is that most people do not check the source of the material they browse online before sharing it, which can lead to the rapid spread of false news. On top of that, it is harder to identify the original source of a news story, which can make it difficult to assess its accuracy.
However, not all fake news can be found online. Colleagues who gossip at the water cooler or while leafing through print publications in which they do not fact-check are also guilty of spreading disinformation, even if unintentionally.
Examples of fake news:
Headlines from the Russian press and the internet
This is the kind of information Russian citizens are fed. In the face of the ongoing war, it is terrifying how propaganda articles full of lies influence the behaviour of others.
Photo
Photos come from pravda.org.pl
False news about the coronavirus
The Covid-19 pandemic created fertile ground for false information online, with numerous examples of fake news throughout the crisis. A recurring example of fake news on social media was the claim that 5G technology was linked to the spread of the virus – supposedly because 5G suppressed the immune system, while the virus communicated via radio waves. These claims were not true and were repeatedly debunked by official sources, but they were still widely shared.
Kim Jong-un – the sexiest living man?
In 2012, the satirical outlet The Onion published an article claiming that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un had been voted the sexiest living man, declaring that "the Pyeongyang-born heartthrob is every woman's dream." As an example of how satire can sometimes be misunderstood across cultures, publications in China – including the online edition of the Chinese Communist Party newspaper – presented the claim as true.
6 ways to spot fake news
Accurately separating fact from fiction can seem time-consuming and off-putting. But getting to the truth is always worth the effort – even if it is not what you want to hear!
1. Think critically
One of the main reasons fake news is such a big problem is that it is often believable, so it is easy to be caught out. Much fake news is also written to create "shock value" – that is, a strong, instinctive reaction such as fear or anger.
This means it is very important to control your emotional reaction to such stories. Instead, approach what you see and hear rationally and critically.
Ask yourself: "Why was this story written? Is it meant to persuade me of a certain point of view? Is it selling a particular product? Or perhaps it is trying to get me to click through to another website?"
2. Check the source
If you come across a story from a source you have never heard of before, look into it!
Check the web address of the page you are reading. Spelling mistakes in company names or strange-sounding extensions such as ".infonet" and ".offer", rather than ".com" or ".co.uk", may mean the source is suspicious.
Regardless of whether the author or publisher is familiar, ask yourself whether they are known for their expertise on the subject. Or do they tend to exaggerate?
Bear in mind that people who spread fake news and "alternative facts" sometimes create websites, mock-ups of newspapers or "doctored" images that look official but are not. So if you see a suspicious post that looks as though it came from the World Health Organization (WHO), for example, check the WHO website to see whether it is really there.
Remember that even if you have a story from your best friend, that does not give it any extra authority – they probably did not take these steps before passing it on!
Tip:
Trusted online fact-checking sites such as Snopes can help you verify stories that sound too good to be true.
3. See who else knows the story
Has anyone else picked up the story? What are other sources saying about it?
Avoid jumping to the conclusion that all mainstream media (MSM) output is fake. That can be as unreasonable as following every rumour or conspiracy theory.
Professional global news agencies such as Reuters, CNN and the BBC have strict editorial guidelines and an extensive network of highly trained reporters, so they are a good starting point. But no one is unbiased and anyone can make a mistake, so keep looking.
4. Examine the evidence
Credible reporting will contain plenty of facts – for example, expert quotes, survey data and official statistics. Or detailed, consistent and corroborated eyewitness accounts from people at the scene of the event. If these are missing, question it!
Does the evidence prove that something definitely happened? Or have the facts been selected or "twisted" to support a particular point of view?
5. Do not take photos at face value
Modern editing software has made it easier 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 a few warning signs you can look out for. For example, strange shadows in an image 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 may come from a different beach or from 10 years ago, rather than from a recent alleged event.
You can use tools such as Google Reverse Image Search to check where an image came from and whether it has been altered.
6. Check whether it "sounds right"
Finally, use your common sense! Remember that fake news is designed to "feed" your prejudices, hopes or fears.
For example, it is unlikely that your favourite designer brand is giving away a million free dresses to people who turn up at its stores. Just as your colleague believing that two married co-workers are having an affair does not mean it is true.
TIP:
Some stories you come across will sound "wrong" but will not necessarily be fake news. They may be deliberate satire or something from a humour website, such as The Onion or The Daily Mash.
