This was a really timely read with an election going on in Canada right now. It was fascinating to read about how far back people have been sharing fake news. The first part of the book is a history and the rest is tips on how to not be tricked.
Before you share something on social media:
1. Read the whole article! Don't get sucked in by click bait headlines.
2. Even once you've read the article, don't go with your gut. Your gut isn't always the most reliable source because all of our personal biases are at play. Also, don't dismiss something as fake news simply because you don't agree with it.
3. Check the URL for the article and check the domain name carefully.
.com are for business. Are they trying to sell you something
.edu Students can use this as well as education organizaitons
.gov is usually a government organization
.org are usually non-profit, however, anyone can buy a .org domain
.biz, .info. .net .xyz etc These are for sites that don't fit somewhere else. Most legitimate news outlets would not use these kinds of domains
4. Check the date! Sometimes fake news starts with someone recycling old news.
5. Investigate the source. Where is this news coming from? Is it written by a journalist or a news organization? A company pushing a product? Or an individual? Most legitimate websites have an 'about us' section to tell you about the people in their organization.
6. Do an internet search on the sources background. If you cannot find anything about the source, be skeptical.
7. Sometimes fake news quotes people that don't actually exist. Google experts they quote.
8. Spelling mistakes are a big sign you have stumbled on fake news or a personal blog/website. Reputable outlets have multiple layers of editors
9. See if other news outlets are reporting on it. Sometimes fake news outlets have more than one website and will publish something across all their websites. Check outlets you're familiar with and are legit.
10. Identify who is telling the story and why. You should be able to click on the author's name and what else they have written. Is this someone who has an expertise on the topic discussed in the article?
11. Check the sources used. If there are not sources listed, be leery. If sources are anonymous, legitimate outlets will explain why they're anonymous.
12. Check out hyperlinks to other articles.
13. Ask yourself if there is more to the story. Fake news writers often copy parts of an article. If important context is missing, it is likely fake.
14. Fake news often makes up quotes and attributes them to real people or copies quotes that they've previously said and they take it out of context to fit what they want to say.
15. Go to fact checking websites that debunk hoaxes and conspiracies.
Goodreads says:
"If I could pick one book to hand to every teen—and adult—on earth, this is the one. True or False is accessible, thorough, and searingly honest, and we desperately needed it." —Becky Albertalli, author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
"Though billed for young adults, this is a book that every adult should read." --The Washington Post
A former CIA analyst unveils the true history of fake news and gives readers tips on how to avoid falling victim to it in this highly designed informative YA nonfiction title.
"Fake news" is a term you've probably heard a lot in the last few years, but it's not a new phenomenon. From the ancient Egyptians to the French Revolution to Jack the Ripper and the founding fathers, fake news has been around as long as human civilization. But that doesn't mean that we should just give up on the idea of finding the truth.
In True or False, former CIA analyst Cindy Otis will take readers through the history and impact of misinformation over the centuries, sharing stories from the past and insights that readers today can gain from them. Then, she shares lessons learned in over a decade working for the CIA, including actionable tips on how to spot fake news, how to make sense of the information we receive each day, and, perhaps most importantly, how to understand and see past our own information biases, so that we can think critically about important issues and put events happening around us into context.
True or False includes a wealth of photo illustrations, informative inserts, and sidebars containing interesting facts and trivia sure to engage readers in critical thinking and analysis.