Fake News: What is Fake News?

Ever wonder what the big deal is with fake news?

Here is why you should care:

It can negatively affect your grade: 

Putting false information in any research paper or assignment is never a good idea. You wouldn't want to get a bad grade from your professor because you trusted the wrong source.

It can hurt you and others:

First, using fake news can destroy your credibility with others. They might not believe what you say in the future. More importantly, however, false information can hurt you and others. Think about it: Ever look up medical information online? What if you read and trusted the wrong source? Misinformation about vaccines, HIV, and other diseases are spread across the world wide web.  

You deserve the TRUTH: 

No one should be lied to, especially when it comes to the news. You deserve the facts. In order to be a good student, citizen and person, you need real information that you can trust. 

This article, taken from Daily Buzz Live is a classic example of fake news. It has been debunked by Snopes and lacks an author and date. The site has been labeled as fake news by Media Bias Fact Check and The Daily Dot.  

This article, taken from Clash Daily is an extreme example of bias. The author (who isn't listed) of the article is extremely slanted. The article is based on their feelings rather than factual information. Clash Daily is listed as a hate group/propaganda site on Media Bias Fact Check. It is also considered fake news by Politifact. 

This article, taken from the premier satirical site, The Onion, is a classic example of satire. This is a Photo-shoped picture that is meant to be absurd and humorous. However, it highlights the importance of taking a closer look at images online. Photographs are easily manipulated and should be checked. A good tool to use is Veracity, which is an iPhone app that does reverse image searches.

Taken from Nicki Swift, a celebrity gossip site, this headline is a classic example of misleading clickbait. The headline is written in a way to dramatize a relatively mundane subject. The reader is made to think that something nefarious has happened, when in reality the article is really about celebrities who have lost their fame and stopped performing. The writer is purposely being misleading in order to get clicks and therefore make money.