It’s pretty simple…
Fake news is a false narrative that is published and promoted as if it were true.
Photo via The Star
According to People’s Bank Net, historically, fake news was used as propaganda, put out by those in power to create a certain belief or support a certain position, even if it is completely false. Now, social media has created an environment where anyone with an agenda can publish whatever they want online as if they were truths
Fake news is dangerous!
While some examples of fake news seem innocent or just an attempt at fun, a lot of it can be malicious and even dangerous.
Fake news is created to change people’s beliefs, attitudes or perceptions, so they will ultimately change their behaviour. This means, if you fall into the trap of believing fake news, your beliefs and your decisions are being driven by someone else’s agenda.
How to spot fake news?
There are some ways you can protect yourself from fake news. The most effective way is to only trust something once you can verify it.
#1 Check the source: Think about the actual source of the news. A blog or a chain message on WhatsApp will not be as trustworthy as a major news portal.
#2 Supporting sources: A trustworthy article must have supporting sources. Look at the sources cited in the article… are they, themselves credible? Do they exist?
#3 Multiple sources: Don’t just rely on a single source. Google search for other news portals or articles that are talking about the same topic. The more you read from various sources, the more likely you can draw accurate conclusions.
#4 Check the date: Make sure that the date is recent and that it is not an older story simply reshared.
#5 Repost carefully: Fake news relies on believers to repost, retweet or otherwise forward false information. If you’re uncertain as to the authenticity of an article, think twice before sharing it with others.
Photo via The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre
We live in a very fast-paced world of social media… so fake news surrounds us every day.
If you are not careful, you run the risk of believing and acting upon it, so take time to follow these basic steps to help ensure you make informed decisions based on facts!
Remember, if tak sure, jangan lah share!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
