What is Fake News?

At it’s very simplest, fake news is any false information shared through media outlets. It provides no factual evidence or sources to prove the validity of the information, and deceives the reader or viewer. Fake news may even include stories with inflammatory messages that seek to confuse, or only present certain details that support one perspective.

While it is difficult to decipher what is fake news and what is factual truth online, it is important that viewers evaluate what they read and hear in order to be well-informed citizens. Viewers should fact check any information that they find online, and search for other media outlets that may have discussed the same topic.

It is also important to evaluate where a news story is getting information from. Do they share the sources they use, where they have gained statistical data from, or a quote from the person that a story is about? A story without valid sources, or any sources for that matter, is probably not trustworthy.

When reading information or watching a news story, it is also necessary that the viewer recognizes where their own bias may cloud their judgement. If an article confirms what you believe or want to be true, it is easy to share it to social media in excitement before fact checking and really evaluating the article. Then, you could be aiding in the spread of disinformation, even if unintentionally.

Even within the last week, I have seen an example of fake news being spread over multiple social media platforms. In a new report from the CDC, it was confirmed that less than 10,000 of people that died from the coronavirus in the United States only had Covid-19. The report however was misinterpreted and countless people, even President Donald Trump, reposted it on their social media, claiming that only 10,000 actually died from the coronavirus.

However, this is not what the report said. The report was stating that 170,000 of those who died from coronavirus also had underlying conditions, such as hypertension or diabetes. For example, if someone with an autoimmune disease has cancer and passes away, that doesn’t mean they didn’t die from cancer, it just means that they also had an underlying condition.

I believe that many people saw the spreading of this disinformation and liked the way it confirmed their suspicions on the coronavirus numbers. While it would have been wise to read the report or find more information from medical professionals, they shared before fact-checking. I have fallen into this trap before, as it is so easy to let our emotions on a topic cloud our judgement.