What is Fake News and
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News can help shape our views, opinions, and attitudes, so it is important to be able to trust what you read, and to make your own judgements about events and stories covered in the media.
Misinformation, sometimes known as ‘fake news’, is when someone creates a false story or account of an event, about a person or social group. Misinformation is not created with the intent to cause harm or to stir up hatred against a person or group, this is called disinformation. The main thing to remember here is that misinformation isn’t deliberate – it’s not created intentionally to deceive other people. It’s when real events, facts or news have been taken out of context without realising, or accidentally giving someone the wrong information. Disinformation aims to create a false perception of a person or group in order to influence others. Misinformation is a growing problem, especially in the online space.
Thanks to social media, we have access to vast amounts of information but with this comes the challenge of tackling fake news. If we delve deeper into fake news, you may come across misinformation and disinformation. Because videos about the news can be shared or liked so quickly on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Twitter, posts containing misinformation can easily spread.
How can you tell whether is it fake news?
Report it as this can be helpful in stopping it from spreading further and being believed by others.
In today's fast-paced digital world, where news spreads quickly, it's important to stay alert. By recognising the signs of misinformation and disinformation, you can navigate the news more carefully and avoid being misled. Always take a moment to check the sources, verify the facts, and consider whether the story comes from a reliable place. Doing so helps create a more informed and honest media environment, where truth matters more than sensationalism.
Caroline Dulin
Misinformation, sometimes known as ‘fake news’, is when someone creates a false story or account of an event, about a person or social group. Misinformation is not created with the intent to cause harm or to stir up hatred against a person or group, this is called disinformation. The main thing to remember here is that misinformation isn’t deliberate – it’s not created intentionally to deceive other people. It’s when real events, facts or news have been taken out of context without realising, or accidentally giving someone the wrong information. Disinformation aims to create a false perception of a person or group in order to influence others. Misinformation is a growing problem, especially in the online space.
Thanks to social media, we have access to vast amounts of information but with this comes the challenge of tackling fake news. If we delve deeper into fake news, you may come across misinformation and disinformation. Because videos about the news can be shared or liked so quickly on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Twitter, posts containing misinformation can easily spread.
How can you tell whether is it fake news?
- Are there signs of Photoshopping/altering of the original image?
- Can you find any other information to support the information you are being told?
- Has the information has come from a reliable source? Is this source known for producing trustworthy content? This can’t always be assumed, even when the source is relatively ‘mainstream’ as many mainstream sources such as tabloid newspapers are known for exaggerating or falsifying stories, then issuing ‘corrections’ later when there is less attention on the story.
- Is the information recent or is an old story being used to support a narrative that there is a certain problem happening now?
- Is the headline accurate? Sometimes misinformation has sensationalist or misleading headlines which don’t relate to or support the information in the article. This type of misinformation can be harmful and effective as many people will read the headline and form an opinion on that without reading the article.
- Is the article written using emotive language? This is usually a sign that the source is biased in some way, and is aiming to influence the views of the reader.
- Is a user/account online sharing stories selectively? E.g. do they share news stories about crimes, but only when they are committed by people of a certain religion or ethnicity?
Report it as this can be helpful in stopping it from spreading further and being believed by others.
In today's fast-paced digital world, where news spreads quickly, it's important to stay alert. By recognising the signs of misinformation and disinformation, you can navigate the news more carefully and avoid being misled. Always take a moment to check the sources, verify the facts, and consider whether the story comes from a reliable place. Doing so helps create a more informed and honest media environment, where truth matters more than sensationalism.
Caroline Dulin
