Welcome!
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Fake news is not a new problem. People have been telling each other lies since the dawn of humanity. Fake news is not a mistake, but rather when lies are distributed intentionally in order to influence public opinion. Fake news seems to be more of a problem now because of our use of social media. A false news report can be shared thousands of times in a single second. Invasion of Fake News by Free Press used under a CC BY-NC-SA license. |
Fake News
Although there have always been propaganda efforts linked to political agendas, our political dialogue seems more partisan and divisive than ever. We are hard-wired to believe things that agree with what we think we already know, and facts don’t change our minds.
Our only defense, then, is to analyze each piece of news as we encounter it. This research guide will give you the tools you need to become a nuanced consumer of news, instead of a victim of fake news.
| Fake news can lead to individual tragedies. On December 4, 2016, there was a shooting at the D.C. pizzeria Comet Ping Pong, and the perpetrator was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm. He said that he went there with guns because he had read news that the owners of the pizzeria were engaged in child trafficking. Of course, it was fake news. |  |
How to Choose Your News
Attribution
Much of the information on this Research Guide was taken from Melissa Zimdar's "False, Misleading, Clickbait-y, and/or Satirical “News” Sources." The text is used with permission under a Creative Commons "BY" license.
