Fake news articles designed to deceive run rampant across the internet. Only later, if ever, do readers discover that the stories they shared may have been false. After initially downplaying the problem, Facebook announced on Friday that it would begin seeking out ways to weed out some kinds of fake news from feeds. Google, too, said it plans to stop fake news sites from using its ad-selling service.
But part of stopping the spread of hoaxes and misinformation also falls on readers who email these articles to friends and family or post them on social media, lending these stories their own credibility.
So how do you judge whether a piece of information is true or fake? Here is a shot fact checker's guide.
Anyone active on social media has probably done this at least once: shared something based on the headline without actually reading the link.
Let’s face it, you’ve probably done this many times. According to a study released in June by computer scientists at Columbia University and the French National Institute, 59 percent of links shared on social media have never actually been clicked.
So the first thing you can do to combat the rise of “fake news” is to actually read articles before sharing them. And when you read them, pay attention to the following signs that the article may be fake. There are fake news stories generated by both left-leaning and right-leaning websites, and the same rules apply to both.
Unfamiliar websites plastered with ads and all-caps headlines should draw immediate skepticism. Googling a site’s name and checking out other articles it posts should also help determine whether it’s trustworthy.
Also, double check the URL to ensure that it’s not a hoax site pretending to be a trusted source. s Television network ABC News' web address is abcnews.go.com. There’s also a fake ABC News website with the Web address of abcnews.com.co.
The use of “.co” at the end of the URL is a strong clue you are looking at a fake news website. (It signifies the Internet country code domian assigned to the country of Colombia.)
Some fake news sites don’t have any contact information, which easily demonstrates it’s phony. The fake “ABC News” website, for example, does not have a “contact us” page.
If the article has no links to legitimate sources ” or links at all ” that’s another telltale sign that you are reading fake news. Even if there are links, check to see that the claims supported by links actually come from reliable sources.
People are often drawn to stories that reinforce the way they see the world and how they feel about certain issues. Fake news is no exception, and many of the articles that fall under its umbrella are designed to stir up emotion in readers and prey on their biases.
It’s important to check that news stories are based in fact, rather than sharing them because they support one side of an argument or bolster pre-existing political beliefs.
Get your news from a variety of places. The best way to ensure that you're not scammed by fake news is to read from a diverse array of news sources, and not just what pops up on a Facebook feed. If a story looks suspicious or claims to reveal major news, search to see if other news outlets are also reporting the story. A single article from a suspicious source making a grand claim should be viewed with heavy skepticism. If no reliable news outlets are also reporting the story, then it’s very likely fake.
A profusion of pop-up ads or other advertising indicates you should handle the story with care. Another sign is a bunch of sexy ads or links, designed to be clicked ” “Celebs who did Porn Movies” or “Naughty Walmart Shoppers Who have no Shame at All” ” which you generally do not find on legitimate news sites.
The publication of blatantly inaccurate stories is certainly not new to the digital age, or even the analog era. What is new is how easy it is for a reader to share a piece of information on Facebook or WhatsApp and watch his 500 followers do the same.
Fake news sites rely on readers to share and engage with their articles in order for them to spread. In extreme cases, these fake articles can balloon out of control and have unintended consequences for those involved in the stories.
