Gone are the days of information being distributed in a controlled manner. What used to be only heard through word of mouth, newspapers and reporters, is now able to be disseminated a matter of seconds with only some buttons and keys. This new advent brings along a massive platform for the spreading of inauthentic news, begging the question, how can one tell the difference between real and fake news?
Facebook has begun using a “trust score” to rate how accurate its members are in finding illegitimate news articles and sources. As Facebook users flag articles they deem “fake” their scores fluctuate depending on if they are correct or not. The scores are kept secret, which brings me to how I recognize what sources are credible or not (USA Today).
It comes down to this, I depend on who (or what) I trust. If the New York Times or Washington Post releases an article on Facebook, I am going to think of the article as accurate and dependable. The New York Times and Washington Post are well known sources with longstanding reputations, that I personally trust.
White House Memo: Trump Claims Credit for the Economy. Not So Fast, Says Obama. https://t.co/uiTL2WlsLI
— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 10, 2018
The same goes for my friends or other people I follow on social media. If I trust someone in real life and am familiar with their integrity and credibility, I will most likely trust articles that are posted by them on Facebook.
Following public backlash over violations that may have cost #SerenaWilliams the U.S. Open, she has also been fined $17K. https://t.co/LnM62gJUfo
— Refinery29 (@Refinery29) September 9, 2018
Of course it is important to pay attention to if an article is an opinion or fact, but overall my authenticity scale comes from my own trusts.