Fake News: What is Fake News?

The ability to tell accurate news from fake news is an important skill that you'll use for the rest of your life. This guide will give you valuable insight in telling fact from fiction online, plus a chance to exercise your newfound skills.

Is My News Fake?

Did your mother call you to tell you about the miracle method to prevent Alzheimer's?

Did your Facebook feed pop up with an article that said the "Aphelion Phenomenon" was causing cold weather and sickness on Earth?

Did you see a news story about HBO talk show host BIll Maher claiming COVID-19 vaccines cause "immune system fatigue?"

You might have heard any or all of these stories, but there's one thread connecting all of them: they're not true.

The ability to tell factually accurate news from false information is an important skill that you'll use for the rest of your life.

This guide will give you insights and resources to help you determine fact from fiction online.

Types of Fake News

Fake news is material that is one or more of following:

  • Material that is intentionally false for malicious reasons
  • Material that is hyperpartisan (displaying extreme political bias)
  • Material that is entirely lacking in credible attribution or supporting evidence
  • Material where the source content has been altered or manipulated
  • Satire or parody for comedic/humorous purposes (The Onion) is a prime example

It's important to understand the distinction between Disinformation and Misinformation. 

Disinformation: a broader term that encompasses all examples of deliberately false or misleading information.

Misinformation: information that is inaccurate, but not necessarily inaccurate on purpose.

Librarian

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Derek Monypeny

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What Makes A News Story Fake?

Source: Lynn Library

What's So Bad About Fake News?

Why should you care about whether or not the information you consume is real or fake?

  1. Fake news can damage your academic career. If you are writing a research paper and rely on false, inaccurate news sources, your paper will not meet the standards of an academic research paper, and you will not receive credit for it. 
  2. Fake news destroys your credibility. If your arguments are built on bad information, it will be much more difficult for people to believe you in the future.
  3. Fake news can hurt you, and a lot of other people.  Purveyors of fake and misleading medical advice help perpetuate myths like HIV and AIDS aren't related, or that vaccines cause autism. These sites are heavily visited and their lies are dangerous.
  4. Real news can benefit you. If you want to buy stock in a company, vote in an election, or do research for school, you definitely want to read as much good information as possible.  Fake news will not help you make money, make the world a better place, or help you graduate - but real news can.

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