'Fake News', Misinformation and Disinformation

'Fake News'

""False news spreads faster than true news on social media, according to multiple studies. Artificial intelligence (AI) has turbocharged the spread of misinformation. Use these tips to protect yourself from lies and manipulation online.

Protect yourself from misinformation and other forms of 'fake news' with these steps:

1.  Slow down and take a second look. Watch for these red flags:    red flag

  • Purposeful evoking of outrage or other strong emotions
  • No listing of the source of the picture or information
  • Strange web address (example abcnews.com.co)
  • Logic-defying pictures or text
2.  Do a web search to find other sources for the story. But be careful!  The web may have numerous sites that link to stories with the same misinformation. Research studies show that people who "do the research" about a false story may become MORE likely to believe it because their Google search retrieves low-quality results that reinforce the fake or misleading story. Unless you find the story on a trusted site, keep investigating. 
3.  Look up the story on a trusted fact checking site. (See recommended fact checking tools below.)
4.  Find the original source of an image through Tin Eye or a Google image search.  
5.  Look for the story in a trusted news source or library database. (See tab for Reliable information sources.)
6.  Use your own critical thinking skills. Is the story emotionally manipulative? Does this story really make sense?

Tip sheets for detecting 'fake news'

Tip sheet titles "How to Spot Fake News." 1) Consider the source. Click away from the story to investigate the site, its mission and its contact info. 2) Read beyond. Headlines can be outrageous in an effort to get clicks. What's the whole story? 3) Check the author. Do a quick search on the author. Are they credible? Are they real? 4) Supporting sources? Click on those links. Determine if the info given actually supports the story. 5) Check the date. Reposting old news stories doesn't mean they are relevant to current events. 6) Is it a joke? If it is too outlandish, it might be satire. Research the site and author to be sure. 7) Check your biases. Consider if your own beliefs could affect your judgement. 8) Ask the experts. Ask a librarian, or consult a fact-checking site.

From the International Federation of Library Associations. Click image or here to download pdf. 

Sort Fact from Fiction Online with Lateral Reading

Read the web like a fact checker with lateral reading. From Stanford History Education Group (3:47 minutes)

Fact checking resources

Save yourself some time and see if a professional fact checking service has already researched a suspicious claim. Here are some highly recommended fact checking tools. 

Source evaluation resources

Sometimes the fastest way to research a claim is to determine if the source (individual or organization) of that claim is trustworthy. Here are some tools for researching the reputations of individuals and organizations. If you can't determine the source of a claim, that in itself is a red flag.