Fake news is now more prevalent than ever and, with today being International Fact-Checking Day, here are some tips to consider while browsing news content on the web, to ensure you don’t fall for a conspiracy theory or a false news report.

First, consider your source. Does the source look professional and use non-misleading headlines? Who wrote the article you’re reading? Check what they’ve written before. Look up your source online and you might find out they have strong political leanings. Is the source a satire page? Make sure what your reading is to be taken seriously. And is the URL credible or is it trying to trick you?

Second, check the date. Sometimes an article you are reading maybe several years old, so check its age before you get too invested.

Third, check other sources. Some websites may adopt a certain political stance, so why not look at other sources and see what they are saying about the same issue. You may find that your original source had used photoshopped images to try and pander to certain beliefs and audiences.

And finally, consider your own biases. Could your own beliefs be affecting your judgement of an article? Be aware of your cultural, political and other biases when reading news articles.

If you follow these steps, you should be able to avoid falling for fake news in the future.

Music: Straight – bensound.com

Originally posted on isitfakenews.wordpress.com as part of my MA Journalism final project

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