How to Spot False News on Your Social Media

Posted on by Sara Rizzo

I have never liked to use the words “fake news” to describe inaccurate or intentionally false information on Facebook because those words have been thrown around a little too freely by people who don’t like to face the truth. However, there is a real threat of accounts spreading inaccurate information on Facebook. So, how do you determine what information on Facebook is authentic and which is not?

False news is so much of a problem, the U.S. Senate Committee on Intelligence had a meeting to discuss foreign influence on social media platforms. The lawmakers at the Senate hearings want social media networks, including Facebook and Twitter, to let users know how to spot fake profiles and inaccurate information.

Facebook has already tried to offer help with spotting this false news on user’s timelines.

Here is an article by NBC News that tries to help spot inaccurate information on your social media feeds.

Some tips they include are:

  • Questions the source. Is it from a reputable site?
  • Look for confirmation of the information. Is it in the mainstream media as well?
  • Check the facts with sites like Snopes or Politifact.
  • Report false news you see in your network (NBC News).

So, how do we cleanse our feeds from seeing inaccurate information?

  • Don’t assume a video is real.
  • Click on links for sites with news articles to expand what you’re shown.
  • Spot the bot warning signs. Do they only post on one topic? Are there lots of grammatical errors? (NBC News).

With these tips, you’ll be able to spot fake news like a pro and read more authentic news on Facebook and your other social media accounts.

Leave a Reply