Note: The views and opinions expressed in blog/editorial posts are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the views or opinions of Misbar.
As users scroll through their timelines on social media, they often believe many of the things they read. Sometimes they don’t even imagine that what they read can be fake or manipulated. Nowadays, stories can reach more people more quickly via social media than they used to through old-fashioned viral emails.
Here is Misbar’s advice on how to spot fake news:
Who published: Is the author specialized in the field of the topic? Is he/she currently working in the field?
Always double-check the user or account who published the news. Make sure the publisher is not biased to any political party, and make sure the publisher is trustworthy and credible.
Check the LinkedIn or do a very quick Google search to see if the author exists.
Check sources: When an article cites sources, it’s useful to check them out. If you can’t find sources, read as much about the topic as you can get a feel for what’s already out there and decide for yourself if the article is accurate or not.
Always read the “About Us” section: Make sure that the resource has an about us section. It may be on a tab at the top of the page or a link at the bottom of the page, but all the credible websites will have some type of About Us section and will provide a way for you to contact them.
For example, https://dnyuz.com/ doesn’t have an “About Us” section.
Look for Bias: Does the article seem to lean toward a particular point of view?
Does it link to sites, files, or images that seem to skew left or right? Biased articles may not be giving you the whole story.
Check the dates: Always remember that information has an expiration date. Try to use the most up-to-date information you can find.
Who owns the website posting the information? - You can find out at either http://whois.domaintools.com or at https://whois.icann.org. Both of these websites allow you to perform a WHOIS search. Whenever someone registers a website address, they are required to enter their contact information. When you get to your WHOIS search, enter in the domain (the first part of the website URL). This step can be used to collect all the information when you question a source or the information’s purpose.
Suspect the sensational: When you see something posted that looks sensational, it is even more important to be skeptical. Exaggerated and provocative headlines with excessive use of the capital letters of emotional language are serious red flags.
It’s also worth mentioning that fake news can be across all media – printed and online articles, podcasts, YouTube videos, radio shows, even images.
Be suspicious of pictures: Not all photographs tell the truth or unfiltered truth. Images are often edited, and sometimes they are digitally manipulated. A Google reverse image can help discover the source of an image and its possible variations.
Consult the experts: We know that you are busy, and some of this debunking takes time.
You can always free to contact us and submit the claims you want us to debunk. Misbar is here to fight fake news!
