According to a 2015 study conducted by the Stanford History Education Group, 80 percent of 7,804 students ranging from middle school to college could not differentiate between real news and fake news. Amidst growing concerns about the spread of fake news and the part it may have played in the recent presidential election, internet juggernauts like Google and Facebook have been motivated to act on behalf of the public interest. Both companies have openly stated their concerns in regard to fake news and have declared that they are actively seeking to suppress it. Google updated its ad policy to hinder the spread of fake news, and it states that “Google ads may not be placed on pages that misrepresent, misstate, or conceal information.”
While technology has become a dominant force of modern society, the internet has become the global river of information from which everyone may drink. With breaking news reports, viral videos and social media connectedness at the touch of a finger, living in the age of misinformation can prove to be difficult.
Here are some helpful tips to combat fake news:
Consider the source: When confronted with a questionable news report or a sensational story that seems too good to be true, consider the source. Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets have implemented a blue checkmark to let users know that an account is authentic. Although you may have to do a little more digging. Look for the author’s name and credentials and search the web to confirm that they are who they say they are. Look for links to their sources of information, click on them, and verify that they work and whether or not they have taken information from another bogus source. Even if the information is credible, check the date of publication. The information could be irrelevant and outdated.
Read closely: In conversation it is easy to pick up on things like sarcasm and humor. In writing it can be difficult to detect. Read about the author and the site posting the content to be sure the information you are reading is not a satirical piece, like a report from The Onion.
Identify claim and support: While reading an article, try to identify the overall claim and then look for the author’s support. Is it more opinion than evidence? Does it make sense at all, or is the author cherry picking evidence to suit their own bias?
Remember the power of bias: Inherently, everyone is biased in one way or another. Whether it is political, religious or even cultural, everyone has strong core beliefs that shape their thoughts and actions. It is important to remember the power of bias because it can become the most deceptive component to undermine your critical thinking. When you read any information that caters to your own bias, your own beliefs, you should be even more skeptical to accept it as true. Remain doubtful. It may be more convenient to trust a source that speaks directly to your bias, but that doesn’t make it true or credible.
Blackburn Director of Lumpkin Learning Commons and Head Librarian Spencer Brayton has advocated for information literacy for at least the last five years. Brayton compared cross checking information to a typical Google search, and stated, “We don’t want to look any further. To take the time to go past the second page. And we all do that.” He also pointed out the tedious nature of verifying sources as individuals are constantly bombarded by information. “It’s not like there was always unbiased information before the internet, but the internet makes it a lot more difficult,” he explained.
While the spread of misinformation may seem like a harmless side effect of the information age, there exists certain dangers beyond just falling for fake news. Blackburn political science professor Dr. Laura Wiedlocher stated that “As an individual, it can alter your attitudes and beliefs towards either a group or individuals.” Allowing one’s views of others to be tainted by misinformation is what perpetuates dangerous ideologies that promote hate and discrimination.