Can I Have an Innocent Mind Again

11 MIN READ

How to Spot Real and Fake News

Critically Appraising Data

When Alice scrolls through her social media feed, she's stopped in her tracks by the news that her company is nearly to be bought out by its biggest rival. She speedily posts a response, shares the story with her contacts, and emails it to her team so that they tin can discuss information technology later.

But then Alice has a troubling thought. What if the story wasn't true? What if she just shared a "imitation news" story? Afterwards all, she didn't check the source.

If she has been a victim of fake news, and then added to the rumor mill herself, how will people ever trust her again?

Fortunately, there'due south lots you can do to avoid making the aforementioned error equally Alice. In this article and video, we explore how you lot can separate simulated news from the truth.

Don't exist fooled past simulated news stories!

What Is False News?

There are two kinds of fake news:

1. Stories that aren't true. These are entirely invented stories designed to make people believe something imitation, to buy a certain product, or to visit a sure website.

2. Stories that have some truth, simply aren't 100 per centum accurate. For example, a announcer quotes but role of what a politician says, giving a false impression of their pregnant. Again, this can be deliberate, to convince readers of a certain viewpoint, or information technology can be the outcome of an innocent mistake. Either mode, it apace attracts an audience and tin become entrenched as an "urban myth."

Note:

To confuse matters further, there are besides people who claim that factually authentic stories are fake news, just because they don't concord with them or find them uncomfortable.

Where Does Fake News Come From?

Imitation news is naught new. But, what is new is how piece of cake information technology'southward become to share data – both true and false – on a massive scale.

Social media platforms allow almost anyone to publish their thoughts or share stories to the world. The trouble is, most people don't bank check the source of the material that they view online before they share it, which can lead to fake news spreading quickly or even "going viral."

At the aforementioned time, it's become harder to identify the original source of news stories, which can brand information technology difficult to assess their accuracy.

This has led to a flood of simulated news. In fact, 1 study establish that more than 25 percent of Americans visited a fake news website in a six-week period during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

But, non all fake news stories are found online. Co-workers who gossip by the water cooler or while browsing impress publications that neglect to check their facts, for example, are too guilty of spreading misinformation, even if inadvertently.

The Impact of Fake News in the Workplace

Inquiry shows that 59 percent of people are concerned about the result that fake news has in the workplace, and with good reason!

For example, some people might start to believe that they no longer demand bear witness to back up their arguments. Others start to mistrust information all together. They stop listening to industry reports, and disengage from official workplace communication, slowing their professional growth and evolution. Ultimately, this can damage an organization'due south learning civilisation.

False news can affect behavior, too. It encourages people to invent excuses, to dismiss others' ideas, to exaggerate the truth, and to spread rumors. This tin create divided, broken-hearted workplaces where people are cynical and unsure of who to trust.

They might even brainstorm to mistrust y'all if they believe that dominance figures have lied to them, or that the information that they are working with is suspect. This can sap people of the marvel, enthusiasm and ambition that they need to collaborate and to exist successful.

Misinformation and false news can also damage your concern. Invented reviews of your products or inaccurate financial updates, for instance, tin can do serious reputational harm.

6 Ways to Spot False News

Separating fact from fiction accurately tin seem daunting. But getting to the truth is ever worth the try – even if it's not what you want to hear! Employ these 6 steps to weed out the truth from the lies:

i. Develop a Critical Mindset

One of the primary reasons fake news is such a big issue is that it is often conceivable, so it'south like shooting fish in a barrel to go defenseless out. Much false news is as well written to create "shock value," that is, a potent instinctive reaction such every bit fearfulness or acrimony.

This means it's essential that yous go along your emotional response to such stories in check. Instead, approach what you meet and hear rationally and critically.

Ask yourself, "Why has this story been written? Is it to persuade me of a sure viewpoint? Is it selling me a item product? Or is it trying to get me to click through to another website? Am I being triggered?"

2. Check the Source

If you come across a story from a source that y'all've never heard of before, do some digging!

Check the web address for the folio y'all're reading. Spelling errors in company names, or foreign-sounding extensions like ".infonet" and ".offering," rather than ".com" or ".co.united kingdom," may hateful that the source is doubtable.

Whether or not the author or publisher is familiar, stop to consider their reputation and professional experience. Are they known for their expertise on the matter? Or do they tend to exaggerate?

Exist aware that people who spread fake news and "alternative facts" sometimes create spider web pages, newspaper mockups, or "doctored" images that wait official, but aren't. And then, if you encounter a suspicious post that looks like it's from the Earth Health Arrangement (WHO), for example, check the WHO's own site to verify that information technology's really in that location.

Remember, even if you got the story from your best friend, this gives information technology no actress authority – they likely didn't follow these steps themselves earlier forwarding!

Tip:

Trusted online fact-checking sites like Snopes tin assistance you to verify stories that sound too good to exist true.

iii. See Who Else Is Reporting the Story

Has anyone else picked up on the story? What practice other sources say about information technology?

Avoid leaping to the conclusion that all main stream media (MSM) output is false. This can be as unwise as following every rumor or conspiracy theory.

Professional global news agencies such equally Reuters, CNN and the BBC accept rigorous editorial guidelines and extensive networks of highly trained reporters, and so are a skillful place to starting time. Only no one is unbiased, and anyone tin brand a mistake, so keep looking.

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4. Examine the Evidence

A credible news story will include plenty of facts – quotes from experts, survey information and official statistics, for example. Or detailed, consistent and corroborated eye-witness accounts from people on the scene. If these are missing, question it!

Does the testify prove that something definitely happened? Or, have the facts been selected or "twisted" to back up a particular viewpoint?

five. Don't Take Images at Face Value

Modern editing software has made information technology easy for people to create imitation images that look real. In fact, research shows that only one-half of us can tell when images are fake. However, there are some warning signs you lot tin can look out for. Foreign shadows on the epitome, for instance, or jagged edges around a figure.

Images can as well be 100 percent accurate only used in the wrong context. For example, photos of litter roofing a embankment could be from a different beach or from 10 years ago, not the recent declared consequence.

You can employ tools such as Google Reverse Image Search to check where an epitome originated and whether it has been contradistinct.

6. Check That information technology "Sounds Correct"

Finally, employ your common sense! Comport in heed that fake news is designed to "feed" your biases, hopes or fears.

For example, it'due south unlikely that your favorite designer make is giving away a one thousand thousand free dresses to people who turn upwards to its stores. Equally, only considering your colleague believes that two married co-workers are having an affair, doesn't mean it's truthful.

Tip:

Some stories that you lot'll encounter will sound "wrong," just won't necessarily exist false news. They could be intentional satire or something that comes from a humorous website, like The Onion or The Daily Mash, for case.

Warning:

If these tips suggest that the information that yous are about to pass on is fake, partial or malicious, avert sharing it with others – even if you lot're inviting them to check it. Doing so could lead to rumors spreading and may impairment your professional credibility.

Test Your Knowledge

Now it's time to put what you've learned into practise! Below are v recent news stories. But, can you tell which ones are truthful and which are faux? Click on the links next to each to notice out.

1. "John McCain Photographed Alongside Osama Bin Laden." Real or Fake?
2. "California Governor to Relocate Veterans Cemetery to Brand Way for Affordable Housing." Real or Simulated?
3. "New Species of Deadly Spider Kills Five in U.S." Real or Fake?
4. "Firefighters Forced to Buy More than Expensive Data Bundle During Wildfire." Real or Fake?
5. "President Trump'south Personal Lawyer Tweets that Hillary Clinton Will Become 'Gratuitous Room and Lath' in Prison." Existent or Faux?

Key Points

Faux news refers to deliberate untruths, or stories that incorporate some truth but which aren't completely accurate, by accident or design.

Some people likewise claim that truthful stories are "fake news," but because they don't concord with them. This can lead to the dangerous ignoring of vital advice.

Faux news tin can have a negative bear upon on workplace beliefs. For example, by damaging learning culture, and causing rumor and mistrust to spread. Then, it's vital to know how to split up the real from the faux. You tin can practise this past following these six steps:

1. Develop a critical mindset.
2. Check the source.
3. See who else is reporting the story.
4. Examine the prove.
5. Don't take images at face value.
6. Check that it "sounds right."

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Source: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/fake-news.htm

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