The internet is a wild jungle of information and it can be difficult to know which sites and stories we can trust. Additionally, the pandemic brought the topic of health, viruses, and vaccinations to the forefront, bringing a stark rise in health-related fake news and clickbait.
So, what exactly is fake news?
Fake news is a phrase that describes any news item that presents false information as facts in an attempt to make you believe something or react in a certain way. Of course, sometimes legitimate reporters and news platforms can get things wrong, but fake news deliberately tries to mislead or provoke a reaction.
If you use social media regularly you will certainly have come across a fake news story at some point. For example, over the past couple of years, there were thousands of fake news stories which detailed DIY methods of killing coronavirus, such as heating the nasal area with a hairdryer to ‘overheat the virus’ and gargling with salt water to ‘wash it away’.
What is clickbait?
A lot of platforms make money through their advertising and in order to make that money, they need your eyes on their pages and stories. Some less reputable sites will do whatever it takes to make that happen, including using clickbait. Clickbait uses thumbnails and headlines that are deliberately exaggerated, sensationalized, or deceptive to get you to click the link. This will likely lead to a webpage covered in ads with a lackluster story that is nowhere near as interesting as the headline promised.
How can I avoid fake news and clickbait?
- Don’t use social media for your news
Social media allows misinformation to travel fast, and so much of it is not fact checked. Keep social media for personal and fun uses, rather than for news and information. An official news platform, like Google News, can show you stories from more trustworthy sources and a range of perspectives.
- Watch out for exaggerated headlines
Clickbait will often use sensationalized language and all capital letters. They will often promise to deliver life-changing information in the article to get you to click, i.e. “This one diet tip will change your life forever”. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
- Read the whole article
Along with the sensational headlines, you’ll usually find that the true explanations to the stories are at the bottom of the article. There may be an impressive story, with additional information purposefully downplayed so that the story seems more impressive or unique at first glance. You’d be surprised how many people on your social media timeline will share an article with an outlandish headline, without even reading it.
- Look at the source
Look at the headline and the source, and consider the source’s intentions. The mainstream media have a duty to keep the public informed. However, the same cannot be said for sites and publications whose main aim is to sell you things, or try to influence your views. - Cross-check the information
Shocking headlines aren’t always false news but you might need to do some digging to prove that they are true. If studies have been cited, check when the study was done and how many participants took part. Small sample sizes or old studies aren’t always the best results to take as fact. Also, check if any other mainstream news platforms are reporting on the story and see if their stories match the one you’ve read.