Fake news has been a hot topic in popular culture in the past few years, especially since the 2016 presidential election. It is more important now than ever to be able to distinguish between factual and fake information. This skill is what I would define as information literacy, being the ability to identify value and accuracy of the information being presented. Sadly many people, majority young adults and teens, can not tell the difference between the two. This poses a grave problem with society, in that if the majority of the population is susceptible to fake news, the spread of misinformation becomes excessive.
Since students of all ages seem to have the hardest time identifying fake news reports, I think it is imperative that students are taught, as early as middle school, how to distinguish between trustworthy and misleading sources. Cornell University gives tips on how to analyze a source to test its credibility based on Daniel Patrick Moynihan’s book, Everyone is Entitled to His Own Opinion but Not His Own Facts:
Consider the Source - Click away from the story to investigate the site, its mission and its contact info.
Read Beyond - Headlines can be outrageous in an effort to get clicks. What's the whole story?
Check the Author - Do a quick search on the author. Are they credible? Are they real
Supporting Sources? - Click on those links. Determine if the info given actually supports the story.
Check the Date - Reposting old news stories doesn't mean they're relevant to current events.
Is it a Joke? - If it is too outlandish, it might be satire. Research the site and author to be sure.
Check your Biases - Consider if your own beliefs could affect your judgment.
Ask the Experts - Ask a librarian or consult a fact-checking site.
(Moynihan 27)
I have definitely fallen prey to fake news reports, especially those from social media platforms such as Instagram. I think being aware of the tell tale signs of fake news reports, and challenging the accuracy of them as you scroll through your Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok feed is a responsibility that everyone shares, as the fate of society and democracy relies on the spread of
accurate rather than misleading information
…… okay that was a bit dramatic but hey I’m not wrong!
Thanks for reading!
Liv