Texoma Area Living Well Magazine September/October 2022 | Page 19

Types and sources of fake news
Fake news comes in many forms and can be tricky to recognize . Generally , it can be found in any form of online media , particularly news articles . But a plethora of videos , posts , and pictures on the internet present inaccurate information as truthful . It ’ s posted online for many reasons — amusement , testing boundaries , or more nefarious purposes such as influencing segments of the population , spreading chaos , confusion , distrust , and even dividing groups and creating conflict . These misleading bits of information are often found and shared through social media , where people read and interact with posts by others .
Fake news stories are usually either completely false or have some truth , but they aren ’ t entirely accurate in the presentation . The first type is easier to recognize , while the second can be more difficult and cause more confusion . Sometimes fake news is unintentionally spread when something is misunderstood or taken out of context . Still , it can be done deliberately to twist what someone said or did to persuade readers to believe something untrue .
Satire sites sometimes become sources of fake news when people reading or sharing these articles are unfamiliar with the website ’ s purpose . Many of these sites don ’ t prominently note they ’ re publishing parodies rather than reporting factual information . So , it can be hard to distinguish parody sites from a legitimate source . Some common satire sites include :
• The Onion
• The Babylon Bee
• Borowitz Report
• The Daily Currant
• Empire News
• CAP News
• Big American News
• National Report
How to spot fake news
When trying to determine if an article or information is fact or fiction , there are some questions you can ask to help yourself spot fake news .
• Does the website have a suffix indicating legitimacy , such as . gov , . edu , or . org ?
• Does it come from a known media outlet such as a reputable news station or other organization ?
• Who ’ s the author , and what are their credentials ?
• Are other major news stations or sources reporting similar information ?
• Does the article itself include linked sources or citations to back up its claims ?
• Is the website selling a product ?
• Is there an obvious bias against a person or group ?
• Is the headline attention-grabbing and unbelievable ?
The written word isn ’ t the only method by which people can share or spread fake news . Images and ‘ deep fake ’ videos are easy to create with current technology . Just because you see a video , hear audio , or see a picture , doesn ’ t mean it ’ s accurate . There may be missing context like being cropped , or it ’ s from a different time or place . It could be edited with parts cut out , slowed down , or sped up . It ’ s even possible to add or remove both audio and visual content .
If you ’ re feeling unsure about recognizing fake news , online classes are available to help . Through a class , you can learn how to spot fake news , see examples , ask questions , and discuss ideas like confirmation bias and the psychology behind people ’ s susceptibility to fiction presented as fact . Classes are offered through some colleges and universities . There are also online classes available such as through Media Wise at www . poynter . org / mediawise / for learning how to discriminate between fact and fiction on the internet . There are also classes designed for older adults such as Senior Planet , AARP , and MediaWise for seniors that have resources for learning how to discriminate between fact and fiction on the internet .
Remember that just because you don ’ t agree with something doesn ’ t mean it ’ s fake news . Fake news refers to something that is demonstrably false or cannot be verified .
How to combat or prevent the spread of misinformation
Fake news is created to be shared . Articles , pictures , and videos designed to mislead can quickly spread once people start sharing with their friends , who also share until it becomes widely viewed and causes problems . Creators often rely on provoking an emotional response , especially fear or outrage , making you feel like it ’ s your duty to share this vital information with others . Even commenting on or reacting to a post can increase its visibility , causing it to spread .
• Don ’ t share any resources without pausing to fact-check them .
• Report posts or articles that are intentionally misleading or inaccurate .
• Read more than just the catchy , attention-grabbing headlines .
• Educate others : don ’ t be afraid to call it out when someone shares fake news ( but be kind because the person sharing it doesn ’ t likely realize it ’ s fake ).
Once you understand how to recognize fake news , you can be a proud part of the movement to stop the spread of misinformation .
Author Kimberly Blaker is a freelance writer . She also owns an online bookshop , Sage Rare & Collectible Books , specializing in out-ofprint , scarce , signed , and first editions ; fine bindings ; ephemera and more at sagerarebooks . com .

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HOW TO FACT CHECK NEWS

If you ’ re not sure about a particular news story or information you ’ ve come across , there are ways to verify it .
These websites are devoted solely to fact checking :
• PolitiFact . com
• Snopes . com
• FactCheck . org
• NewsGuardTech . com
Also , mainstream social media sites like Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook have started marking posts that share articles , news stories , videos , and even accounts . You can often find a notation under the post regarding its veracity and a link to learn more about the post , where it came from , and trusted sources with related information .
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