Do you know how to spot fake news? Use these tips to navigate the political news cycle
Editor’s note: This article is part of U.S. Democracy Day, a nationwide collaboration on Sept. 15, the International Day of Democracy, in which news organizations cover how democracy works and the threats it faces. To learn more, visit usdemocracyday.org.
Misinformation and so-called fake news have been key talking points ahead of the November Presidential election.
Live fact-checking was used during Tuesday’s Presidential debate between former President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. ABC News later released a few of its fact-checking claims from the debate.
Half of all Americans get their news from social media with Facebook leading the way, according to a Pew Research Center study.
Another Pew Research Center study says that while Americans value reading news on social media, concerns over inaccuracies are growing.
About 40% of Americans (an increase of 9% from a 2018 study) say inaccuracy is the thing they dislike most about getting their news from social media. These concerns are about unverified facts, “fake news,” unreliable sources and misinformation.
So how do Americans go about sifting through misinformation and fake news to find reliable sources? Here’s what to know:
What is misinformation?
Misinformation is defined as incorrect or misleading information, according to Merriam-Webster.
There are several fact-checking websites who assess news stories, especially regarding political statements:
FactCheck.org
FactCheck.org is a website that monitors the accuracy of claims made in political stories and statements made by politicians themselves. Users can find fact-checked articles and even submit their own fact-checks.
The website is a nonprofit project from the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.
Snopes
Snopes fact-checks a wide variety of topics, including politics, entertainment, science, history and more.
The website is part of the Snopes Media Group Inc., which is owned by businessmen Chris Richmond and Drew Schoentrup. Snopes is also a member of The International Fact-Checking Network from the Poynter Institute.
PolitiFact
PolitiFact fact-checks statements from politicians and tracks trending topics that could be misinformation.
The website uses a “truth-o-meter” to determine if a claim is true, false or somewhere in the middle. PolitiFact was created by the Tampa Bay Times in 2007 and acquired by the Poynter Institute in 2018.
OpenSecrets
OpenSecrets tracks money in U.S. politics from elections to elected officials.
The website has money tracker for the current 2024 Presidential election candidates and even those who have dropped out of the race. OpenSecrets is a nonpartisan nonprofit based in Washington D.C.
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How to spot fake news online
The term “fake news” may seem like a relatively new phrase, but has actually been in use since the end of the 19th century.
Merriam-Webster found traces of the term being used in writings in the late 1800s. However, the dictionary said “fake news” is unlikely to be entered into its catalog since its a self-explanatory compound noun.
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions has an infographic about spotting fake news with the following tips:
- Consider the source: Click away from the story to investigate the website, its mission and contact information.
- Check the author: Do a quick search on the author to see if they’re credible and/or real.
- Check the date: Reposting old news stories doesn’t mean they’re relevant to current events.
- Check your biases: Consider if your own beliefs could affect your judgment.
- Read beyond: Headlines could be outrageous to get clicks. Read the whole story.
- Supporting sources: Click on link of sources and determine if the info given by them actually supports the story.
- Is it a joke: If it’s too outlandish, it could be satire.
- Ask the experts: Ask a librarian or consult a fact-checking website.
