Understanding Fake News

Introduction to Fake News

Definition: No single definition; encompasses various types of misleading information across different platforms.
Usage: Often used ambiguously; British government banned the term in official documents due to its misleading nature.

2016 U.S. Presidential Election: Fake news stories were more widely shared than real news.
Russian Involvement: Spread of disinformation through fake accounts and advertising.
Threat to Democracy: Widespread nature poses dangers to democratic processes.

Past: News was trusted more when produced by known organizations and professional journalists.
Present: News spread faster across internet, TVs, phones, making it hard to trace credible sources.

Hoaxes: Completely fake stories designed to mislead.
Scams: Deceptive stories aimed at defrauding people.
Clickbait: Sensational headlines encouraging clicks, often misleading.
Sponsored Content: Ads disguised as news to sell products or influence opinions.
Propaganda: Biased stories using quotes and images out of context.
Spin: Biased interpretation of events to influence public perception.
Sensationalism: Exaggerated news to provoke interest or outrage.
Satire: Fake news for humor, sometimes mistaken as real.

Social Networks: Spread by users and automated accounts (chat bots) to amplify reach.
Repetition: More exposure to a piece of fake news can make it seem more believable.

Vigilance: Cross-checking information and being aware of signs of misleading content.
Prevention: Helps curb the spread of misinformation by identifying fake news early.