How to Identify Fake News
Original image from Roman Kraft on Unsplash.
1. Evaluate the URL.
Sites that end in “.lo” or that append well-known news sites with “.com.co” tend to be either biased or clickbait, and are not authentic sources.
2. Perform title and domain analysis.
While not guaranteed indicators that the content is fake or biased, words like “wordpress” or “blogger” in the domain typically signify the site is a personal blog rather than an established news source. Many legitimate freelance journalists do maintain their own blogs, so use your judgement when evaluating the content and context.
3. Check the “About Us” section, or note its absence.
Sites without clear ownership or contact information beyond a generic email address should be considered suspect.
4. Beware of poor grammar, ALL CAPS, and excessive use of exclamation points!!!!
Lack of proper copyediting and effective proofreading may indicate the source is biased or, in some cases, created by bots or automated aggregators.
5. Check Snopes.com and Wikipedia.com.
Enter the source name or article title into these two sites, which may offer information on whether the content is legitimate or suspect/scammy. If you suspect a Wikipedia entry itself may be biased, click on “view history” in the top right corner to view its contributors.
6. Monitor your emotions.
Clickbait sites often use charged language (good and bad) to elicit an emotional response that will make you more likely to share the story or click on the links. If you find yourself becoming overly smug, self-satisfied, or angry, consider learning about the topic from another source.
7. Identify and resist clickbait.
Sites that have generally credible stories but use exaggerated, misleading, or “listy” headlines may be clickbait, profiting from each click-through or affiliate share made by a visitor. However, some legitimate (or borderline legitimate) news sites also use sensational headlines, so seek other sources to confirm the content of stories.
8. Seek out the primary sources.
Attempt to find the primary sources referred to in articles whenever possible. Visit the websites for state, local, and federal government departments, search for the sites owned by the individuals and organizations who are referenced, and use your powers of research to seek original and multiple sources of information before you assume it to be accurate and true.
Pro Tip:
CDC.gov, WHO.org, and your city and state websites are the best sources for up to date information on the status of the pandemic in your region.