In the digital age when many get their ‘news’ and ‘information’ via social media, the menace of fake news poses a very real danger. Fake news takes on the form of actual fabrication, vigorous propaganda, deliberate misinformation, misleading and deceptive news, or slanted and sensational reportage. The motive could be ideological, political, financial or even criminal. The results of fake news proliferation are many: confusion, disharmony, polarisation, loss, spread of prejudice, communal clashes, and violence. With fake news being such a widespread phenomenon, it falls to us – you and I – to spot the fake, verify the real news and forward with extreme care.
Don’t let sensationalism get to you. Be skeptical even if the sensational news is about something or someone you feel strongly about. This is a good rule of thumb to follow: the more sensational the news, the less inclined you should be to believe or trust in it!
News headlines are painstakingly created to catch your attention, make you pause and click on them. There is a reason why the term ‘clickbait’ came into existence: defined as content that relies on sensationalist headlines to attract click through, encouraging forwarding and sharing. It is meant to generate ad revenues and further certain agendas; often at the expense of quality and accuracy.
Always, always, always read the entire piece before you share it; you want to know exactly what you're sharing. Clickbait headlines sometimes lead to fairly insipid, lame content. Some headlines may actually be spoofs or satire. Some headlines are exaggerated or downright misleading. The headline may consist of one out-of-context quote or a statement twisted to mean something else. The actual story may be quite different. So, no matter what the headline says, make sure you read the whole thing.
Does the content seem balanced or does it seem to be portraying one party in a positive light while painting the other side as the culprit? News ought to be objective reportage, not biased opinions coloured by political patronage, ideological leanings, funding, and other factors.
Be naturally suspicious of social media content; particularly WhatsApp forwards. If you find the news interesting, check the source. Is it a reliable publication that has been around for a while? Is it some shady portal you’ve never heard of before? Is there a by-line? Has the writer written other stuff as well? If the source seems obscure and opaque don’t trust it. At times, even with reputed, mainstream publications you have to beware of slants and biases!
Often, it may say BBC or CNN or The Times, but it may be an inauthentic website cleverly designed to look much the same as the real thing. Check the URL and compare it with a genuine piece you may have read before, on the relevant website.
If you see a news item on one website, do a simple Google search to see where else it is reported. Is it reported by several reputable publications and are the details essentially the same in each case?
It is difficult to be a fact-checker; often even reputed news houses fall into the fake news trap. However, there are several fact-checking sites that tell you what is true and what is fake! Recommended Indian websites include Altnews.in, Factchecker.in, Boomlive.in, Smxhoaxslayer.com and so on. Others include Snopes.com, PolitiFact, Boatos, Chequeado, Africa Check, WahlCheck17, SouthAsiaCheck and many others.
Before you forward, consider the following: Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it inspiring? Is it necessary? Is it kind? No matter how much you want a piece of information to be true, remember this useful statistic: fake news is more likely to become viral than real news!
You cannot absolve yourself of responsibility by tacking on the ubiquitous “forwarded as received” disclaimer. You have to be duly diligent before disseminating information. You have a responsibility to be a good citizen and not let your judgement be clouded by affiliations, preconceived notions and belief systems. Your actions have consequences; some of those consequences could be far-reaching. Remember this as you hit FORWARD or SHARE.
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