via TikTok (sea otters); Mauricio Handler/National Geographic/Getty Images (whale); Shutterstock.com (all other images)

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Can You Spot the Fake?

False information seems to be everywhere online. Here’s what you need to look out for. 

November 4, 2024
By Ellen Song

As You Read, Think About: What are some reasons people share false information online?

People in Indiana were alarmed. Last December, a social media post claimed that two lions escaped from the Indianapolis Zoo. It showed a photo of lions walking outside at night. Within hours, it had been shared more than 20,000 times.

But the post was fake. No animals had escaped. The photo had actually been taken in 2015 in South Africa.  

This is just one example of online disinformation. That’s false or inaccurate information that is meant to mislead people.  

It’s never been easier to create and share fake online content that seems real. Just about anyone can edit photos and videos.

So fakes can be hard to spot and often trick people. According to a recent survey, only 23 percent of adults said they felt very confident that they could identify false information. That’s a problem because not all fake content is harmless.  

Here are some tips to help you tell fact from fiction. 

Tip: Check your emotions

News from reliable sources is meant to inform. It gives people facts so they can make up their own minds about events and issues. 

On the other hand, false information is often meant to get a strong emotional reaction from people. We’re more likely to believe disinformation that makes us scared or angry. 

Around election time, fake content can be used to affect Americans’ opinions about a candidate and change how they vote.

Tip: Consider the source

It’s important to understand where the information you see online comes from. Reliable reporters do a lot of research. They interview people and make sure their facts are correct. 

But people called influencers try to get others to think a certain way, or to convince them to buy something. They often do that with opinions, not facts. Many influencers have millions of followers. That means they are popular, not that you can trust all they say. 

Tip: Think like a detective

Spotting fake articles, photos, and videos seems to get harder each day. But there are ways to identify them. It all starts with being skeptical. If something seems fake or wrong, you should dig deeper.

“Understand what the clues are, and look for them,” says Jamie Nuñez of Common Sense Media. The organization helps kids spot false information online. 

If the clues point to disinformation, don’t share the post. And let your friends know if the content they share is fake. 

“Sharing correct information will allow us to build trust with others,” Nuñez explains.

Real vs. Fake

Even real news can sometimes be hard to believe. Answering these questions usually leads to the truth.

Who posted it?

The sea otter post is real! It was made by CBS News, a trusted organization that has been around since 1927. The account that shared the whale post, which is fake, is not a reliable news source. 

What do other sources say?

Many other respected news sources reported the story of the sea otter. The only news you might find about the whale is that the story is a hoax.

  1. Based on the article, why might online disinformation be getting harder to spot?
  2. What does the author mean when she advises people to “check your emotions” when trying to spot false information online?
  3. How do influencers differ from reliable news reporters? Consider their goals and the kinds of content they share.
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