WHAT STRATEGIES CAN YOU USE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN FAKE AND FACTUAL

INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET?

I. OPENING STATEMENT

The Stanford History Education Group published a study that discovered an alarming statistic. They
discovered that over 80% of pupils could not discern the difference between authentic and fake news
on the internet. It is worth noting that the identical results were obtained by both under-resourced
lower schools and affluent schools with considerable research resources.
It is possible to make web stories appear important and backed up by substantial evidence. Good
writing, appealing large-scale visuals, and share/like counts all visually imply that an article is true
news. Regrettably, these are not always accurate signs of a fact-based tale.
Fake news is just as common as real news. This is especially true in our information-driven,
interconnected Internet age. One of the inherent risks of consuming information on the Internet is
being fooled by fake news. So, how do we distinguish between the real and the fake? Sometimes we
read a headline and think to ourselves, "Wait, really? That cannot be possible, right?" Other times, it
is obvious that you're reading false news right immediately. However, every now and again, some
headlines merit more research in order to unearth the truth. This paper will be highlighting what is
fake news, how it spreads and what strategies readers may use to distinguish between fake and
accurate information on the internet.

II.a. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The Mind Tools (n.d.) defined fake news as false or misleading material masquerading authentic
news. Fake news can be divided into two categories: (1) There are certain stories which are not  true.
These are wholly made-up stories intended to persuade people to believe something they should not,
to buy a product they should not, or to visit a website they should not. (2) Stories that include some
truths yet are not entirely true. A journalist, for instance, may just quote a portion of what a politician
says, giving the reader a false sense of their intent. This might be done on purpose to persuade
readers of a particular point of view, or it can be the consequence of an honest mistake. In either
case, it soon gains a following and might become an "urban myth." To add to the confusion, some
people declare that factually accurate pieces are fake news simply because they disagree with them
or find them unsettling.
Andrews, (2019) elaborated how faux news spread. The researchers have developed a model for
analyzing diseases that can infect a person more than once. It examines how many people are
"vulnerable" to the disease – or, in this case, how inclined they are to believe fake news. It also
considers how many individuals have been exposed to it, how many have been "infected" by it and
believe the narrative, and how many are likely to disseminate fake news. According to the
researchers, being exposed to many strains of fake news over time can wear down a person's
resistance and make them more susceptible, much like a virus. The more fake news a person is
exposed to, especially if it comes from a credible source, the more likely they are to be convinced or
infected.
II.b. ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION

Fake news is frequently disseminated via fake news websites that, in an attempt to establish
credibility, imitate legitimate news sources. According to studies, social media allows misleading
information to spread quickly — even faster than true news. Fake news spreads quickly because it's
usually designed to catch people's attention and elicit strong emotions, which is why it frequently
includes outrageous claims or stories that incite anger or terror. Content is frequently prioritized in
social media feeds based on engagement measures, such as how many times it's shared and liked,
rather than how factual or well-researched it is. Clickbait, hyperbole, and disinformation can spread
quickly using this method.
As social media businesses are viewed as platforms rather than publishers, they are not subject to
the same legal obligations as conventional media outlets — but this may change as the political and
legal landscape changes. Because they mass manufacture and distribute items, social media bots
can spread fake news regardless of the credibility of their sources. Bots can construct bogus
accounts on the internet, which earn followers, notoriety, and authority — some of which are set up to
distribute false information. Trolls, who purposefully aim to provoke conflicts or anger people on the
internet, are also involved in the dissemination of fake news. They are sometimes paid to do so for
political purposes.

III.a. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Crockett, (2016) listed five strategies on how to determine faux news and these are: (1) Check Your
Sources, (2) Pay Attention to URLs, (3) Be Wary of Ad Overload, (4) Perform Your Own Search, (5)
Look for the Extreme. Note that if these tips indicate that the information you are about to share is
false, incomplete, or malicious, do not share it with others - even if you are urging them to verify it.
This could lead to the propagation of rumors and jeopardize your professional reputation. Knowing
how to recognize misleading news might help you become more aware and careful  of your
surroundings. As not knowing how to recognize false news can lead to misunderstandings which is
why readers should always check first and not spread news if they sense it is untrue, and raise
awareness on social media platforms so that others can also stop and help spot false information.

III.b. ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION

Crockett’s, (2016) first strategy, Check Your Sources, there are numerous sites and authors who are
not the authoritative experts they claim to be. Because our Internet is not  well-policed, it is easy to
stuff an online bio with made-up accolades. The tale of former President Barack Obama prohibiting
the Pledge of Allegiance in classrooms is a wonderful illustration. The author's bio was given as an
example in a Factcheck.org article. It turned out to be absolutely fake after some research. Make sure
you understood how to assess an author's credibility.
Pay Attention to URLs, a well-known news source will almost always have its own domain, but this is
not always the case. For example, if you are in a hurry, you can miss a URL like nbc.com.co and
simply click on it. It is the extra.co at the end that you need to be aware of. Look for simple
misspellings of well-known names or terms as well.
Be Wary of Ad Overload, a large number of advertisements on a news site might also be a warning
flag. They are designed to be used as distractions, and they are excellent at it. Many advertisements
are carefully positioned to encourage clickbait or high news consumption rates. This prevents you
from pausing to consider what you are reading critically.
Perform Your Own Search, when you are unsure about a headline or a fact, the simplest approach is
sometimes the best. You can usually just conduct a search on it to see what other people have to say
about it. Multiple sources will usually corroborate a factual news article. However, if there is any doubt
about the story's veracity, a google search should reveal this. Check to verify if the same story is
being reported by reliable news outlets.
Look for the Extreme, fake news reports frequently make ludicrous assertions. Predictions of
worldwide disasters or stories of "accidentally" discovering miracle treatments are examples. It's a
good idea to approach any such story with a healthy amount of skepticism.

IV. GENERAL CONCLUSION

Fake news is just as common as real news. This is especially true in our information-driven,
interconnected Internet age. The Mind Tools (n.d.) defined fake news as false or misleading material
masquerading authentic news. Fake news can be divided into two categories: (1) There are certain
stories which are not true. (2) Stories that include some truths yet are not entirely true. To add to the
confusion, some people declare that factually accurate pieces are fake news simply because they
disagree with them or find them unsettling. Andrews, (2019) elaborated how faux news spread. Being
exposed to many strains of fake news over time can wear down a person's resistance and make them
more susceptible, much like a virus. The more fake news a person is exposed to, especially if it
comes from a credible source, the more likely they are to be convinced or infected.
Crockett, (2016) listed five strategies on how to determine faux news and these are: (1) Check Your
Sources, (2) Pay Attention to URLs, (3) Be Wary of Ad Overload, (4) Perform Your Own Search, (5)
Look for the Extreme. Knowing how to recognize misleading news might help you become more
aware and careful of your surroundings. As not knowing how to recognize false news can lead to
misunderstandings which is why readers should always check first and not spread news if they sense
it is untrue, and raise awareness on social media platforms so that others can also stop and help spot
false information.

V. CLOSING STATEMENT

By mistake or purpose, fake news refers to deliberate untruths, or stories that have some truth but are
not totally factual. Some people also label true things as "fake news" just because they disagree with
them. This can lead to dangerous disregard for important counsel. Fake news has the potential to
negatively affect workplace behavior. For example, by wreaking havoc on learning culture and
spreading rumors and mistrust. As a result, knowing how to tell the real from the phony is crucial.  It's
important to note that employing just one of the above approaches to identify false news is ineffective;
the strategies are supposed to be used in tandem. While a trustworthy news source has a
responsibility to provide facts without bias and rely on reliable sources, this does not absolve media
consumers of responsibility. It's also your responsibility as a reader to double-check the facts you are
reading.
VI. REFERENCES

Andrews, E. (2019). “How fake news spreads like a real virus.”

Crockett, L. (2016). “5 Strategies for Spotting Fake News Stories (and Why You Need To).”
https://blog.futurefocusedlearning.net/5-strategies-spotting-fake-news-stories

The Mind Tools. (n.d.). “How to Spot Real and Fake News.”
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/fake-news.htm