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Fake News: Evaluating News Sources: What is Fake News?

This guide illustrates how to identify fake news stories and how to fact-check and evaluate them.

Fake News

Fake News are false stories that appear to be news spread through social media that are created to influence political views, make money, cause harm to a person or group of people or intended to be humorous.

There are several types of fake news stories

  • Satire - stories meant to be humorous or ironic (often politically inclined)
  • Distortion - stories/images that have been altered from their original form to be misleading
  • Clickbait - sensationalist headlines designed to make readers click on them to increase views and advertisement revenue
  • Hoax/Fabrication- stories that are completely made up and are untrue
  • Propaganda -  ideas, information and rumors deliberately spread to help or hurt a person, cause or institution

Misinformation or Disinformation?

Picture of burned car door supposedly caused by hand sanitizer.

Will Hand Sanitizer Combust if Left in a Hot Car? 
Source: Snopes.com (May 22,2020)

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