It is vital to know what fake news, mis- and disinformation are, what influence it has on the reader and how to spot it. This is because what you read in the media has a huge effect on how you look at the world around you. If you are being fed false information that you believe to be true, it can truly cause a lot of damage.
That is why media updates Talisa Carlson digs deeper to see exactly what, how and why this is found within the news.
Ready to take a closer look? Then take out your magnifying glass and lets get to it:
Misinformation is easily shared amongst people, even though they are not 100% sure if it is indeed factual. This is because the reader might not be aware that it is actually incorrect.
This type of information is misleading and contains false information, but it is spread without the intention of causing damage or harm.
For example, a blogger might have only read an articles headline on social media and then wrote an opinion piece on that. In the blog they are writing, there could be a lot of 'information' and the blogger may not mean any harm when writing the piece. But in this same piece, there is a clear lack of facts and research.
This type of information can be found in blogs that might be run by political parties (without the public being aware of it) to push out content that contains disinformation to push a certain agenda.
As readers consume a lot of news daily, one would think that it will be easy for people to spot disinformation; so why does it continue to thrive? The simple answer: People believe what they want to believe.
That is why there is so much disinformation surrounding politics, the pandemic and even when it comes to racial issues. Readers need to be extremely cautious of this type of news because it can cause a lot of damage.
For example, in 1946, the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company began making a bold claim in its advertisements, saying, More doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette!
The company made claims that Camels cigarettes assist with a wide range of health issues, and this was published in the mainstream media. A lot of people soon after started smoking, not knowing that they had been disinformed.
When it comes to fake news, the intention is all about pushing an agenda and purposefully crafted, sensational, emotionally charged, misleading or totally fabricated information that mimics the form of mainstream news.
Fake news is also referred to as false information by industry professionals and its main focus is to damage a persons reputation or evoke a specific emotion within the reader.
This is very evident in the political setting, for example, because politicians want to create hype surrounding themselves or their opposers.
Here are four questions to ask yourself to spot false content:
1. Does the message seem emotionally charged?
Remember, when a journalist is reporting back on happenings that took place, they wont be emotionally invested. They will focus on reporting the facts.
2. Does the content seem biased?
In ethical journalism, you wont find content that is biased. This means that the journalist will just talk about the facts and not provide their own personal opinion.
3. Did big news outlets cover the same story? If you come across news that seems a bit far-fetched, its best to head over to Google and do research. Have big publications talked about the issue? If not, it might be a clear indication that its fake information.
4. Does the person who posted this have other social media accounts? Ever wanted to be an FBI agent? Because now is your chance! Doing research on the person or account who posted a story is a great way to debunk any false content.
For example, if it is posted on a blog, does the blog have social media accounts? Do these accounts link back to reliable sources? Did the person who posted it have an active social media account? If you answered no to most of the questions, accept it to be fake.
Disinformation and misinformation Fake news False information Misinformation and disinformation in media Media industry Fake news Difference between misinformation and disinformation Purpose of misinformation and disinformation
Read the rest here:
Misinformation, disinformation and fake news: What readers should know - Media Update
- France Takes Legal Action Against Israeli Fake News Firm Revealed by Haaretz - Israel Did Nothing - National Security ... - Haaretz - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Totally Not Fake News: Airing of grievances...Houston Texans and otherwise - Battle Red Blog - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Fake news sites, misinformation exploding thanks to new tech - Fox News - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- The Candice Malcolm Show | The biggest fake news HOAXES of 2023 - True North - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Evaluating truthfulness of fake news through online searches increases chances of believing misinformation: Study - Phys.org - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Unsure if news is true? You may be more likely to believe misinformation - The Jerusalem Post - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Lions on the loose in Indianapolis? Its not true, its fake news, zoo officials say - FOX 59 Indianapolis - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- No, Adele was not holding a Palestinian flag at one of her recent concerts - Truth or Fake - FRANCE 24 English - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- X to be investigated for allegedly breaking EU laws on hate speech and fake news - The Guardian - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- AI-generated weapons of mass misinformation have arrived - MSNBC - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Deepfakes are everywhere! Who is keeping the tab on fake news? - afaqs! - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Analysts hit out at the use of smear tactics and fake news by Western nations - China Daily - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Please respect my history and respect my boys - Jose Mourinho says his alleged all-time XI including Cristiano ... - Sportskeeda - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Call to secure prompt response to fake news ahead of elections in Belarus - Belarus News (BelTA) - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- As fake nudes become latest AI headache, experts call for regulation and awareness - The Indian Express - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Newsable: Fact-checking fake news can make you more likely to believe it - Stuff.co.nz - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Alleged fake nurse charged with forgery and impersonation on Vancouver Island - CBC.ca - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Lions on the loose in United States? - ARY NEWS - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Fake news, real victims: The tragedy of the Middle East bombings - The Hill - October 22nd, 2023 [October 22nd, 2023]
- New YouTube Recommendation Feature After Government Notice On Fake News - NDTV - October 22nd, 2023 [October 22nd, 2023]
- Fake news exposed: Injured Gaza baby photo proven to be AI-generated - The Jerusalem Post - October 22nd, 2023 [October 22nd, 2023]
- Social media trolling and spread of fake news are threat to Irish ... - The Irish Times - October 22nd, 2023 [October 22nd, 2023]
- FG won't trample on rights of citizens in fight against fake news, says ... - TheCable - October 22nd, 2023 [October 22nd, 2023]
- Russian Propagandists Are Dancing on the Bones of Israel-Hamas ... - The Moscow Times - October 22nd, 2023 [October 22nd, 2023]
- Health Ministry rebukes Elon Musk for 'fake news' about COVID-19 - The Times of Israel - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Elon Musk Is Flirting With a Fake AOC Twitter Account - The New Republic - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Fake news is only getting worse | News | mymcr.net - Monroe County Reporter - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Identifying fake news requires actively open-minded thinking, new ... - Concordia University News - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Binance's Changpeng Zhao complains of fake news and hints at ... - CoinGeek - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- DISINFORMATION, MISINFORMATION AND FAKE NEWS - The Star Online - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Will Brazil's 'Fake News Bill' regulate disinformation or stifle free ... - The World - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Sedition Not Ruled Out For Spreading Fake News, Misinformation On Manipur - NDTV - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Journalists at the front lines battling fake news - The Star Online - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- 'Fake news' -- Dele Alake debunks reports of appointment as ... - TheCable - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- FAKE NEWS ALERT: We are not recruiting, PenCom tells jobseekers - TheCable - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- May 29: DSS warns against fake news, says there are plans to ... - TheCable - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Study reveals key reason why fake news spreads on social media - April 6th, 2023 [April 6th, 2023]
- Rob Gronkowski shuts down rumors of Bill Belichick shopping Mac Jones: 'I think that was fake news' - Fox News - April 6th, 2023 [April 6th, 2023]
- Fake cop arrested after attempting traffic stop of real cop - The Mercury News - April 6th, 2023 [April 6th, 2023]
- False information is being spread: Officials on fake news over attack on Bihari migrant workers in Tamil Nadu - India Today - March 4th, 2023 [March 4th, 2023]
- These Were the 10 Most-Viewed Fake News Stories on Facebook in 2019 - February 20th, 2023 [February 20th, 2023]
- TOTALLY NOT FAKE NEWS: The Texans Off-Season Off to a Fast and Furious Start... - Battle Red Blog - February 2nd, 2023 [February 2nd, 2023]
- What would happen if a space rock crashed into your town? Find out with this simulator - CW39 Houston - January 23rd, 2023 [January 23rd, 2023]
- Did Fake News On Facebook Help Elect Trump? Here's What We Know - NPR.org - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Working to Stop Misinformation and False News - Facebook - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- FAKE NEWS FAILING: The Washington Post Has Lost 500K Subscribers Since ... - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Types of fake news: Know the difference between misinformation and disinformation - News9 LIVE - January 8th, 2023 [January 8th, 2023]
- Fact Check: WEF's Statement To Bathe Once A Week To Combat Climate Change. Is It True? - Outlook India - January 8th, 2023 [January 8th, 2023]
- How fake news gets into our minds, and what you can do to resist it - December 25th, 2022 [December 25th, 2022]
- TOTALLY NOT FAKE NEWS: No Time to Celebrate for the TexansThey Got Football To Play - Battle Red Blog - December 25th, 2022 [December 25th, 2022]
- FAKE NEWS | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- Fake news. It's complicated. - First Draft - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- Fake news: What is it? And how to spot it - CBBC Newsround - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- Kangana Ranaut reacts to reports about Emergency allowed to be shot in Parliament: Its fake news - Bollywood Hungama - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- Due diligence was required, or a Google search: The Quint CEO pulls up Ravish Kumar on his claims of Adani owning the organisation - OpIndia - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- Fake news: How to spot misinformation : Life Kit : NPR - December 2nd, 2022 [December 2nd, 2022]
- How the US Government Used Propaganda to Sell Americans on ... - HISTORY - December 2nd, 2022 [December 2nd, 2022]
- TMCs Saket Gokhale spreads fake report claiming 30 crore was spent on PMs Morbi visit citing RTI response that does not exist - OpIndia - December 2nd, 2022 [December 2nd, 2022]
- Fighting Misinformation, Meet Andy Norman, Who is Empowering People to Combat Fake News - News18 - December 2nd, 2022 [December 2nd, 2022]
- Fake News: Why People Believe, How It Spreads, and What You Can Do ... - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- TOTALLY NOT FAKE NEWS: The Texans Look to Bounce Back - Battle Red Blog - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Report of armed robbery of Harrison Twp. bar appears to be a case of fake news, Sheriff Streck says - WHIO - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- On the Philippines fake news problem - BusinessWorld Online - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Get Rs 5000 if received Covid shots - This claim is FAKE #FactChecked - OTV News - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Centre warns against propagating hate, spreading fake news on social media - Times Now - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Congress Initiates Action Against BJP's Priti Gandhi, 4 Others Over 'Fake News' - The Quint - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Brazil Has Never Been So Prepared to Fight Fake News - Americas Quarterly - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- Totally Not Fake News: The Texans And The Fallout From History - Battle Red Blog - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- OVP studying whether to file complaints vs. those spreading fake news regarding Duterte - GMA News Online - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- Study Says Many Teens Cant Tell The Difference Between Real And Fake News - HuffPost - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- TikTok is infested with fake news, according to this study - Gearrice - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- Heavy losses for Ukraine, the feats of Russian soldiers, and fake news from Kyiv - Meduza - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- NASCAR & NBA Arent the Sports Responsible for Michael Jordan & Denny Hamlins $150 Million Fake News Collaboration - EssentiallySports - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- A short history of fake history: Why fighting for the truth is critical - Salon - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- What is fake news? - Definition from WhatIs.com - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Fake News is All Around Us - Seed World - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Totally Not Fake News: For the Texans, the End of the Beginning? - Battle Red Blog - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Fake news and the real thing - Buenos Aires Times - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- The death of Queen Elizabeth II is giving rise to scams and fake news - Komando - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Data: Cases booked for 'Circulation of Fake News' down 42% in 2021; Pendency increases while Conviction rate comes down - Factly - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]