Generally speaking, fake news is a false narrative that is published and promoted as if it were true. Historically, fake news was usually propaganda put out by those in power to create a certain belief or support a certain position, even if it was completely false. Social media has now created an environment where anyone with an agenda can publish falsehoods as if they were truths. People can be paid to post fake news on behalf of someone else or automated programs, often called bots, can publish auto- generated fake news. The motivations as to why people create and distribute fake news are as numerous as there are individual opinions.
The Dangers of Fake News
While some examples of fake news seem innocent or just an attempt at fun, a lot of it can be malicious and even dangerous. Fake news is created to change people's beliefs, attitudes, or perceptions, so they will ultimately change their behavior. This means if you fall into the trap of believing fake news, your beliefs and your decisions are being driven by someone else’s agenda. Also, in some parts of the world, there can be legal consequences for publishing and sharing fake news.
How to Spot Fake News
So how do you protect yourself from fake news? The most effective way is to only trust something once you can verify it.
Consider the Source: Think about the actual source of the news. A local blog will not be as trustworthy as a major academic journal. What does the source stand for? What are their objectives?
Supporting Sources: Look at the sources cited in the article. Are they themselves credible? Do they even exist?
Multiple Sources: Don’t just rely on a single article. The ..
Support the originator by clicking the read the rest link below.
