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How to Identify and Combat Fake News
How to Identify and Combat Fake News
Amanda Clark
Remember when fake news only appeared in grocery store tabloids? Those were the days. Now fake news in much more insidious and dangerous. While Trump likes to label information he doesn’t like as “fake news,” in reality fake news means propaganda. Russia has been perfecting propaganda since the Cold War, and they used it to interfere with the 2016 election. But how? And what can we do to combat it?
Russian troll farms created thousands of fake accounts on social media and used them to spread divisive messages about HiIlary Clinton, immigration, guns, and other issues. They also created fake organizations like Secured Borders and LGBT United which paid for ads that reached 126 million people on Facebook alone. Some ads used sophisticated microtargeting to reach people in swing states like Michigan and Wisconsin. The Russians even used fake organizations to trick Americans into attending rallies and even protest each other. This didn’t end with the election. They are still stoking tensions today, particularly on racial issues -- for example, arguing both sides of the NFL players kneeling issue. Their goal is to sow discord among Americans and it is working.
So what can be done to combat fake news? It’s difficult to debunk a rumor once it spreads, and even the act of repeating the rumor to debunk it can reinforce the rumor. People tend to double down on deeply held beliefs when presented with evidence that disproves them.
But if you are going to try, Michael Shermer offers these suggestions on how to change people’s minds:
But if you are going to try, Michael Shermer offers these suggestions on how to change people’s minds:
- Keep emotions out of the exchange
- Discuss, don't attack
- Listen carefully and try to articulate the other position accurately
- Show respect
- Acknowledge that you understand why someone might hold that opinion
- Try to show how changing facts does not necessarily mean changing worldviews
Since debunking fake news is so difficult, it is better to stop it from spreading in the first place. It is important to recognize that every media outlet has bias, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t presenting facts. Here is a chart of popular news outlets arranged by bias and also by how fact-based they are. Being a savvy news consumer is critical. Use reputable sources and always read the whole article before commenting or sharing. Verify the information presented by clicking on links to the source material to see if it supports the claims in the article. Also, verify the information in at least two other reputable sources. The more outrageous the claim, the more important it is to verify before spreading.
Being a savvy media consumer also means thinking about the purpose of the information being presented. One of the main purposes of provocative headlines is to be clickbait, because clicks are how money is made. You probably recognize headlines like “follow this one simple trick” as being advertisements. But fake news can be advertisements too. One teenager in Macedonia got rich off of people clicking on his completely fabricated news during the 2016 election.
How can you identify fake news? FactCheck.org offers the following advice:
How can you identify fake news? FactCheck.org offers the following advice:
- Consider the source. Is it the real web address of a legitimate media outlet or something that looks similar? Is it a real newspaper (ex., The Boston Globe) or a fake newspaper (ex., The Boston Tribune)?
- Is there a byline, and if so, is it a real person
- Read the source material. Sometimes the studies, articles, databases, etc., being cited don’t support the claim being made at all.
- Check the date. If an event occurred two years ago or more, then the current president can’t take credit for it.
- Make sure it’s not satire. For example, The Borowitz Report is a satirical news column that people sometimes mistake for real news.
Being a savvy media consumer is important, but few will make the effort. Shouldn’t the system be doing something about fake news? The 2018 election is almost here and there is little evidence that any safeguards have been put in place. We won’t get any help from Trump, of course, but Congress should make recommendations for meaningful changes when they complete their investigations. We need to hold Congress accountable.
Social media organizations like Facebook and Google have pledged to do something about fake news, but they recently promoted hoaxes after the Las Vegas shooting, proving that they have a lot more work to do. Facebook has agreed to start labeling disputed articles, but won’t take them down. We need to hold social media companies accountable as well. As elections approach, we need to demand that our elected officials prevent further meddling. Stay tuned to TWW Louisville for actions you can take in 2018.
Social media organizations like Facebook and Google have pledged to do something about fake news, but they recently promoted hoaxes after the Las Vegas shooting, proving that they have a lot more work to do. Facebook has agreed to start labeling disputed articles, but won’t take them down. We need to hold social media companies accountable as well. As elections approach, we need to demand that our elected officials prevent further meddling. Stay tuned to TWW Louisville for actions you can take in 2018.
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