Dealing with fake news: How to separate fact from fiction

This one seems like a no-brainer, but it’s essential to actually read an article before letting it form your opinion — especially if the headline makes an outrageous claim. A recent study found that only 59 per cent of articles shared by Twitter users has actually been clicked, suggesting that many people share links based on the headline alone. 

Real news contains the real byline of a real journalist. Fake news (including sponsored content and traditional corporate ads) does not. Once you spot the byline, look at the writer’s bio. This can help you identify whether the item you’re reading is a reported news article, a persuasive opinion piece, or something else entirely. Bonus points if the site provides a way to contact the author. And if no authors are listed, ask yourself: Why don’t they want to stand behind their work? A story without a byline is a huge red flag. 

Real news will include multiple primary sources when discussing a controversial claim. Fake news may include fake sources, false urls, and/or alternative facts that can be disproven through further research. When in doubt, dig deeper. Facts can be verified. If you think you might be reading fake news, try to find an article about the same subject from different media outlets. If you can’t find the story on any other site, you may have been bamboozled. 

Look at the publication date. If it’s breaking news, be extra careful. Real news is published by trustworthy media outlets with a strong fact-checking record. If you get your news primarily via social media, try to verify that the information is accurate before you share it. On Twitter, for example, you might look for the blue verified checkmark next to a media outlet name to double-check a publication source before sharing a link.

Above all, watch your own opinion and how it’s influencing what you read. Are you inclined to read only news from sites that correspond with your current opinions? Are you more inclined to think a story is factual because you’re happy to hear the information in it? You should consider the possibility that you may not actually know if what you’re reading is true unless you’ve seen it multiple times from completely different sources. We know it sounds inconvenient and time intensive. However, it’s the price you have to pay if you want facts, and not garbage, to inform your opinions.