How To: Spot Fake News

Do you know how to spot fake news? Here a few tips for your online browsing to help weed out fake stories.

What is fake news? Unfortunately, fake news has become an everyday occurrence on the internet. Fake news consists of deliberate misinformation or hoaxes that is spread online, often via social media.

How do you determine trustworthiness online? Here are three tips to assess whether a story is fake.

• Read more than the headline before clicking. Fake news stories often have catchy or salacious headlines. This is intentional because they want you to click it! Before clicking, it’s your job to be a little skeptical. Consider the photos. Are they authentic or are they just click bait? Look closely at the link. Many fake news websites mimic authentic news sources by making small changes to the web address, so review the link carefully to ensure you’re on a legitimate website.
• Consider the source and author. Do you know the source or website reporting the news? Do you recognize the author? Are they a credible source? Do a quick Google search and see if you can determine if they have a reputation for accuracy.
• Consult a fact checking website. Also, check out other reports for the same news. Are any other sources you trust reporting the news story? If no major credible news sources are reporting the same story, it may indicate it is false.