How to Identify Fake News

Fake news is a powerful force. It can spread misinformation, rumors, and lies. It can contribute to or create conspiracy theories, undermine people’s trust in the media and governing bodies, and, perhaps most concerning, it can further perpetuate ideas that harm others.

The truth is that fake news can be hard to detect in the sea of media we are continuously exposed to because it isn’t always the obvious clickbait headlines we expect.

To help distinguish fake news from reliable news, this article will look at what constitutes fake news, common types, and, most importantly, how to identify fake news.

What Is Fake News?

Fake news is a popular term that generally refers to false or misleading information. It comes in various forms and can be published intentionally or unintentionally. Generally, fake news fall into two types of categories: misinformation and disinformation.

Misinformation is usually unintentionally published and shared with others, while disinformation is published with the intention of persuading, deceiving, or otherwise influencing people.

While we often think of fake news and misinformation more generally as a modern problem, it has existed for over a century. Even the term “fake news” has been around since the 1890s.

Types of Fake News

There are various types of fake news, but these five are among the most common.

Clickbait

Clickbait news is an intentional form of content that generates clicks and website visits. It prioritizes sensationalism over accuracy and encompasses things like misleading headlines.

Propaganda

Propaganda is content designed to promote or influence political views. Propaganda can take many forms beyond news. While biases can appear in the news and other content, propaganda deliberately incorporates bias to influence.

Imposter Content

When reputable news sources are mimicked, this is known as imposter content. This form of fake news aims to spread disinformation by exploiting the reputation of news platforms, journalists, or other usually trustworthy publishing sources.

Satire

Satire or parody news articles exaggerate news stories to make a joke or an entertainment piece. There are websites dedicated to this type of news, such as The Onion.

Genuine Mistakes

Sometimes, misinformation spreads because of genuine mistakes made by journalists. Since mistakes are human, trustworthy and reputable news organizations will have measures in place to minimize errors. If an error is published, these organizations also have guidelines for being transparent and publicizing the error to make it known. Unfortunately, before mistakes are caught, misinformation from a mistake can spread and contribute to the fake news cycle.

How to Identify Fake News

Since fake news can come in many forms, it is important to consider key elements of a news article or news source when assessing its reliability or truth.

Consider the Source

When evaluating content, consider who is publishing it by analyzing the writer, editor, and platform sharing it. Usually, you can find out more information through the “About” section of a website, which can help you establish the authority and trustworthiness of the website. You’ll also want to look for information such as contact details during your assessment. 

Of course, it’s more than just news sources you want to assess in this way. Even an online store or a new page discussing casino bonuses should be evaluated critically before taking action or accepting the information offered as true.

Read More Than the Headline

If an attention-grabbing headline captures your interest, be sure to read beyond the headline and subheading. Read through the article and see how the headline fits in with the rest of the article. 

Compare Sources on the Subject 

Another reliable way to assess the truth of a news story is to compare different sources and the information they provide. This is called lateral reading, and it can help determine a story’s truth. 

You can ask yourself questions such as what are the shared details across publications and what sources are the publications citing? These can help you determine whether misinformation from a sensationalized news story fueled the sensationalizing or if something was fabricated entirely.

Check Information Sources and Links

Look at the sources credited or linked in the article to determine if the sensationalized headline is based on truth or simply to attract clicks. You may even want to read through the links to see what the sources say without the filter of a journalist sharing them.

Use Fact-Checking Platforms

Since fake news is such a common phenomenon and worry, websites that verify or fact-check have been developed. If you’re unsure of a news story’s credence or accuracy, you can turn to these sites for answers. A popular site for dispelling general misinformation or rumors found online is Snopes.com. It provides insights into everything from celebrity scandals to politics.

When it comes to topics like US politics, two other popular options are FactCheck.org and PolitiFact.com, both of which fact-check news relating to US politics.

Ask Experts

When in doubt, you can turn to authorities on the subject or experts in research. For instance, if you’re having trouble assessing the quality of a news source or story, a librarian can help provide clarity and point you in the right direction to find answers to your questions or worries related to a news piece.

Conclusion

Fake news, misinformation, and disinformation are commonly distributed, particularly online. This is why it’s essential to keep in mind the different forms in which fake news can be presented and to assess the quality of news sources with a critical eye. It may not be glamorous, but it can help keep you informed and decrease the spread of harmful content.

This article was written in cooperation with Ernest Riley