14 DAY TRIAL // Facebook is facing a lot of pressure to get it right in the fight against fake news, especially given how many people share such stories on the social network. On top of the solutions it has come up with to flag fake news on the site, it is also playing another angle by trying to educate users about this problem.
This isn't a bad strategy at all. In fact, it's quite brilliant. In the end, Facebook won't be able to simply block entire websites from being shared over its platform because they create fake news, and flagging those bad stories as untrue takes time due to the verification process. Educating people about fake news and how to spot them, however, might pay off in the long run.
In order to do this, Facebook is adding an alert at the top of your News Feed titled "Tips for spotting false news." This notification will show up several times over the next few days, leading people to a support page full of wisdom and common sense. Users in 14 countries, including the United States, are going to get this type of alert first.
Facebook's tips
1. Be skeptical of headlines. Facebook notes that false news stories often have catchy headlines, using all caps and exclamation points; anything to get your attention.
2. Check the URL A URL that looks very much like that of another site you've actually heard of is a clear warning sign. Many of these false news sites mimic authentic news sources and make small changes in the URL so you don't immediately notice.
3. Investigate the source Make sure that the article comes from a source that you trust, a source that has a reputation of being accurate. If the story comes from an unfamiliar organization, it's best to check the "About" section to learn more about them.
4. Check for formatting Many of these false news sites have misspellings or weird layouts. A reputable site will make sure everything is in place and easy to read. Typos will happen even with the largest organizations, but they're an exception, not the norm.
5. Look at the photos False news stories often contain manipulated images or videos. While the photo may sometimes be authentic, it could be taken out of context. A reverse Google image search can tell you more about it.
6. Check the dates Sites promoting false news may contain timelines that make no sense, or the dates may have been altered altogether to fit the purpose.
7. Check the evidence If you have any doubts, check the author's sources to confirm that their portrayal of the situation is accurate. Lack of evidence or relying on unnamed experts can be clear indicators of a false news story.
8. Check other reports Most often than not, a topic is reported by multiple sources. Check other reports on the same story and see if they match.
9. Is it a joke? If we had a dime for every time someone took an article posted by a satirical site as real, we'd be richer than Bill Gates. Check to see if the source of the article is known for its parody articles or if there are any other indicators the story was written just to have some fun.
10. Some stories are intentionally false When reading, use critical thinking. Share only the news that you know is credible.