Do you know what information can be trusted online and what you should question?
According to some studies, fake news and misinformation on social media are more engaging than cold, hard facts. Even though platforms have taken countless steps to combat the spread of false information, it’s still circulating and accessible.
While you might not be able to remove fake news online wholly, there are plenty of ways to ensure that you avoid seeing it on social media. Here are some tips to help you do just this...
Don’t Engage With It
When you engage with any form of content on social media, the algorithms will show you more of that. Even if you’re only engaging with it to show your discontent.
To limit your chances of seeing fake news on social media, don’t engage with fake news—even if you’re only looking to express your discontent.
Instead of leaving a comment or an angry-faced reaction, report the post to the platform. Besides getting the original post offline, you’ll also see less similar content.
Only Follow Reputable News Outlets
It’s very easy for anyone to claim they’re an expert on the internet these days. And in this respect, news reporting is no different.
Be careful when interacting with news publications you’ve never heard of before or those that you know have a political bias.
Along with following reputable news outlets, it might be a good idea to go directly to their page for content rather than scrolling through your feed.
Go Straight to the News Site
You can eliminate all doubt of whether or not you see fake news by skipping social media. Instead, consider going straight to news sites you trust.
Again, it’s essential to look for publications that are known as both reputable and impartial. Examples of websites you can trust for balanced reporting include Reuters and the Associated Press (AP).
Beyond getting more credible information, going straight to the news site might also help you curb excessive social media consumption. Generally speaking, you only need to browse headlines once or twice per day.
Understand the Difference Between Fake News and Satire
Satire is big on social media. There are whole websites and accounts dedicated to posting satirical articles or ironic headlines. Often, they look very similar to standard news websites. Because of this, it’s easy to get tricked into thinking you’re reading a genuine story.
Examples of popular satirical news websites include The Onion, Borowitz News, and The Daily Mash.
Satirical news websites are generally harmless and are designed to amuse. If you’re ever unsure, a quick check of the website’s name on Google will confirm whether or not you’re reading something intended to inform.
Block Spreaders of Fake News
Often, fake news is brought to our profiles by other people we follow. If you’ve noticed that someone on your feed is consistently spreading false information; blocking, unfriending, muting, or unfollowing them might be the best option.
Similarly, it would be best if you were wary of content from accounts you are unfamiliar with. If you’ve noticed a profile appearing more often on your feed and find that it’s spreading fake news, block or mute them.
To distinguish accurate content from inaccurate content, it’s a good idea to run background checks on journalists and news outlets you see before deciding.
Check the Date
In the fast-paced world of social media, ignoring the fine details of articles and videos you see can be all too easy. You might find yourself drawn to a post’s headline, but not look at how long ago it was published.
Not all websites update their news articles, meaning that information that was once true is not. And for you, it might be easy to fall into the trap of thinking the content is timely.
If the original post is retweeted on social media, you’ll be able to see the date it was shared. But if someone has written their own post instead, it’s a good idea to run a Google search with the headline.
By doing this, you’ll be able to find out not only when the article was published, but when it was last updated.
Take Steps to Stop Fake News From Appearing on Your Social Feeds
With so much content thrown around social media every day, knowing what you can and cannot trust can be difficult. But with a little common sense and due diligence, it’s not impossible.
Before interacting with any news, ask yourself if you’re viewing content from a credible source. If you need to, cross-check and run a quick online search. If you find certain accounts are continually sharing unreliable information, block or unfollow them.
Verifying news stories might seem like a lengthy process, but it is actually quite fast. You’ll also thank yourself for doing so and stopping the fake news you see.