Spot the Fake: Your Guide to Real News

Spot the Fake: Your Guide to Real News

“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” This quote by Mark Twain has proved to be truer than ever before.

In today's digital world, false information spreads rapidly, causing real-world harm. From misleading headlines to outright deception, fake news poses a significant challenge. The consequences can be severe, including eroding trust and dividing communities.

A study at MIT reveals that fake news spreads more faster, deeper and broadly than the truth. The truth rarely spreads beyond a 1000 people whereas the most contentious fake news in their sample regularly spread between 1000 and a 100 thousand people. Another revelation was that humans were more likely to spread fake news than the truth compared to bots.

For instance, misinformation about COVID-19 caused serious harm. Over 6,000 people were hospitalized and at least 800 died in the first three months of 2020 alone due to false information about the virus. Certain governments denied the severity of the second wave, despite many deaths. Some public agencies in India promoted Ayurvedic products like Ayush64 as a cure with no proof complemented by the health minister falsely claiming World Health Organization approval.

v ‘If everybody is a reporter then nobody is.’ So how do you get the truth or something close to it?

•        Get original news unfiltered by middle men
•        Follow reporters on social media: Newscasters and bloggers post updates and recordings from the midst of the chaos during major events.
•       More chaotic the story, the less you should follow in real-time: for example, during events like terrorist attacks or natural disasters, check for latest information at several points of the day rather than every few minutes
•        Read coverage from multiple outlets and follow a diverse range of perspectives: do not remain in echo chambers
•       Separate fact from opinion: check for words that indicate guesses by outlets or a safe play such as ‘think’ or ‘likely’.
•       Check the reputation and validity of the source: some reports rely on anonymous sources who could have an interest in influencing coverage
• Use fact-checking websites such as:

           1. PolitiFact: https://www.politifact.com/

           2.FactCheck.org: https://www.factcheck.org/

           3. Snopes: https://www.snopes.com/

           4.International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN): https://www.poynter.org/ifcn/ 

           5. FactChecker.in (India's first fact check initiative): https://www.factchecker.in/

•        Learn how to judge news sites through their attention-grabbing and sensationalized headlines which give rise to clickbait.
•       Verify news before spreading it

Remember - with freedom comes responsibility. It is crucial to ensure that this flow of information does not become a flood leaving us less informed than before we took the plunge. Being a discerning consumer of media is not just about protecting yourself; it's about empowering yourself to make informed decisions and shape the world around you.

So, the next time you are exposed to news, ask yourself – ‘Is this information trying to inform me, persuade me, or manipulate me?’

-BY KAVYA MEHTA