Here’s how to outsmart fake news in your Facebook feed | CNN Business

CNN
–

Simply because a piece of information is on the internet does not make it true. It may sound simple, but if everyone were aware of this fact, Facebook and Google would not have to remove fake sites from their advertising platforms, and people would not share stories claiming that Donald Trump is a covert alien or that Hillary Clinton is an android.

However, it doesn’t have to be this way. Fake news is easily discernible if you know how to spot it. Consider this your new guide to improving your media literacy.

NOTE: While putting this together, we asked two communication experts: Dr. Melissa Zimdarsassistant professor at Merrimack College in Massachusetts whose power list of untrusted websites gone viral, and Alexios Mantzarlisthe subject of International Fact-Checking Network at the Poynter Institute.

Zimdars suggests being cautious of websites with unusual suffixes like “.co” or “.su” or those hosted on third-party platforms such as WordPress. Some fake websites, like National Report, have catchy names that can easily deceive social media users. For instance, false reports from abcnews.com.co, such as the June story claiming President Obama signed an arms embargo, became viral before being debunked.

2. Does the title of the story match the content of the story?

Mantzarlis highlights that one of the main reasons fake news spreads on Facebook is because people are drawn to the headline and often do not bother to click and read the full article.

An example of this is when several questionable news organizations published a story claiming that Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi said “Pepsi STOCK Plummets CEO Tells Trump Supporters To ‘Take Their Businesses Elsewhere’.” However, the articles did not provide any evidence or statements supporting this claim.

Sometimes, legitimate stories can be twisted and resurfaced after many years to create a false perception of events. For instance, a misleading article cited a story from CNNMoney, claiming that Ford had moved vehicles from Mexico to Ohio due to Donald Trump’s victory, when in reality, the move happened in 2015 and was unrelated to the election.

5. Does the article mention primary sources?

Fake news is not limited to political stories. Now8News, for example, is a popular fake news site that masquerades as a legitimate source, specializing in viral and sensational stories.

One such story claimed that Coca-Cola recalled Dasani water bottles after “white bugs” were found in the water. Despite an accompanying image, further investigation revealed that the image could potentially be unrelated to the story. Moreover, no official statements or articles from Dasani or any consumer advocacy groups supported this claim.

In this digital age, it is crucial to verify the sources of articles. Whenever possible, trace the story back to its original source. If multiple reports all lead back to the same questionable source, it raises suspicions.

Additionally, photos and videos can be manipulated or taken out of context to support false claims. For instance, Occupy Democrats once posted a video showing a girl being pulled out of a bathroom by the police, supposedly due to not looking feminine enough. However, there was no date on the video, and there was no evidence linking it to the specific “bathroom bill” debate it was associated with.

In fact, the same video had already been circulating on Facebook in 2015, which suggests that it predated the specific debate it was linked to.

It’s crucial to critically evaluate articles and look for credible sources when quotes are mentioned. A popular meme featuring a fake quote from Donald Trump claiming that Republicans are “the stupidest group of voters” is a prime example of misinformation. The quote was falsely attributed to a People Magazine interview in 1998 and is not found in any legitimate sources.

6. Does the article contain quotes, and can they be verified?

A popular meme in liberal Facebook groups features a fabricated quote falsely attributed to Donald Trump from a 1998 People Magazine interview, claiming that Republicans are “the stupidest group of voters.” However, reputable sources do not contain any such quote.

Confirmation bias plays a significant role in the spread of fake news. Facebook’s algorithm reinforces users’ existing beliefs by showing them content aligned with their interests. This means that if you already have negative perceptions of Donald Trump, you might be more inclined to believe negative news about him, even if it lacks evidence.

Zimdars emphasizes that people tend to seek information that confirms their biases. When confronted with information they disagree with, they may actively look for flaws to discredit it.

Therefore, if a news story seems too good to be true, it is essential to approach it with caution. It could very well be a fabrication intended to deceive.

Did you know there is an International Fact-Checking Network led by Alexios Mantzarlis? This network follows a code of principles that emphasizes accuracy and transparency. Websites like FactCheck.org, Snopes, and Politifact adhere to these standards, so you know you are getting reliable information from them. You can find the full list of trusted fact-checking sites here.

Differentiating between misleading stories, false stories, satire, and clickbait can be difficult. Zimdars provides a comprehensive list that covers various types of untrustworthy sources, while Snopes also offers a similar resource.

However, Zimdars points out that categorizing some sites as “fake” may not be entirely accurate. Labels such as “fake” can oversimplify the complexity of different types of unreliable sources. It is crucial to critically evaluate and verify the veracity of information rather than relying solely on labels.