The Art of Avoiding Fake News & Misinformation
Mike Peterson, Ph.D.
Utah Tech University
Mike Peterson, Ph.D.
Utah Tech University
There is a lot of bad information out there. Some of it is fake news: disinformation created with the purpose of deceiving you. And some of it is just misinformation due to sloppy reporting, lazy writing, or over-relying on AI.
No matter the purpose behind the bad information, it's important for you to know how to spot it so that you can avoid it.
Here is a quick example of something that happened to me recently.
I like to give my poodle a Milk Bone every morning when I leave for work. She loves them. But then my daughter-in-law texted me one day saying that Milk Bones cause cancer and I need to stop feeding them to Lainey. I watched the video that she sent made by Planet Paws that claimed that Milk Bones contain a cancer-causing preservative called BHA and should never be given to dogs. I instantly felt bad about feeding my dog toxic treats for so long. I was about to throw the rest of the Milk Bones away, but then I thought, "Hang on. Why is this the first I'm hearing about this?" So I Googled it, and it didn't take long to discover that Milk Bones are, in fact, safe for dogs and don't cause cancer. Snopes, a reliable non-profit website that fact checks popular claims on social media, found that the creators of the video had misread or misinterpreted a report about BHA. The report found that most dog food and treats, including Milk Bone, contain small amounts of BHA which is used as a preservative. A dog would have to eat hundreds of Milk Bones every day for years before the BHA levels would be high enough to be of concern. But the creators of the video simply saw that Milk Bones have BHA, and since BHA in high doses has been linked to rare instances of cancer, they concluded that Milk Bones cause cancer.
This little bit of investigative work (what I call "lateral reading") only took a few seconds, but it put my mind at ease. I didn't have to throw out the Milk Bones, and I didn't have to feel guilty that I was poisoning my dog. In addition to reading the Snopes article, I also checked out Planet Paws, the folks who created the video. They are legit. They have a vet on their staff. I don't think they were purposely trying to spread fake news. Their intentions were good. But, like all humans, they made a mistake. They misunderstood a scientific article about BHA and then shared their faulty conclusions. Unfortunately, most people don't take the time to read laterally, so their video is still being shared and reposted, and the false notion that Milk Bones cause cancer is still being spread on social media.
There is an ongoing debate about where to draw the line between fake news and misinformation. Personally, I don't consider this fake news. Instead, I think Planet Paws inadvertently spread misinformation due to sloppy reporting. I would encourage the creators to update their video and to try harder next time, but I wouldn't accuse them of creating fake news.
It's okay if you disagree with me. In the end, I suppose it doesn't matter too much if you classify this as fake news or misinformation. What matters is that you can spot it and act accordingly.
What is Fake News?
Fake news refers to false or misleading information presented as legitimate news. Fake news spreads quickly through social media, websites, and even traditional news outlets. Whether it is created to manipulate opinions, generate ad revenue, or simply as a joke, fake news can have serious consequences, influencing public perception, politics, and personal beliefs.
Some people will dismiss all misinformation as fake news. I disagree with that approach. Misinformation is false or misleading information shared without the intent to deceive. This can happen when people unknowingly share incorrect facts or outdated news. It is especially common now that people frequently use ChatGPT and other AI programs which are known to "hallucinate" or create fake information. If you don't take the time to verify the accuracy of what ChatGPT is telling you, it is easy to spread that misinformation without realizing it. It's important to be able to spot misinformation so you don't act on it or continue spreading it. But I would encourage you to be somewhat forgiving. We all make mistakes.
Disinformation, on the other hand, is false information deliberately created and spread to deceive people. This is often used for political propaganda, financial gain, or to manipulate public opinion. This, I would argue, is what is meant by fake news. I am not forgiving of fake news. If I spot it, I avoid it and do what I can to help others avoid it too.
If someone shares an old news article about a natural disaster, believing it just happened, that is misinformation. Likewise, warning dog owners about the risks of BHA in Milk Bones is misinformation. But if a person or group fabricates a fake news story about a politician to sway voters, that is disinformation.
What Isn't Fake News?
It has become popular this last decade for people to dismiss legitimate news as fake news simply because they don't like it.
Something isn't fake news just because it makes you uncomfortable or you disagree with it. It isn't fake news because it doesn't support your political or religious views. And it isn't fake news because it hurts your feelings.
It also isn't fake news just because it contains errors or inaccuracies. That doesn't excuse sloppy reporting or lazy writing. We all need to try harder. But if a person is trying their best and gets a few things wrong without the intention of deceiving then I would not dismiss it as fake news.
If you are a democrat, then you shouldn't dismiss Fox News as fake news because they said mean things about your favorite candidate. Likewise, if you are a republican, you shouldn't dismiss The New York Times as fake news because they fact-checked your candidate of choice. That isn't to say that either news outlet is 100 percent accurate. Both have been known to spread misinformation, and maybe even disinformation at times, but that doesn't mean you should wholesale discount everything they report as "fake news."
To avoid being misled by fake news, you need to think critically, read laterally, and evaluate sources carefully. Here are a few strategies to help you distinguish fact from fiction:
Check the Source – Reliable news outlets have established reputations for accuracy. Look for information from well-known and reputable sources such as major newspapers, government websites, or academic institutions. If you're not sure if a site is legit, see what Allsides.com has to say about it.
Look Beyond the Headline – Clickbait headlines are designed to grab attention but may not reflect the truth. Read the full article before forming an opinion or sharing it.
Read Laterally – Instead of just scrolling down the page, open new tabs and check out what other sources are saying about the website or the claim.
Verify the Author – If an article lacks an author or comes from an unknown individual with no credentials, it may not be trustworthy.
Cross-Check Information – Compare the news with other reliable sources. If only one website is reporting a shocking claim, be skeptical.
Check the Date – Some fake news articles manipulate old events to create new outrage. Always verify when the information was published.
Examine the URL and Formatting – Fake news websites often have odd domain names (e.g., .co instead of .com) and poor design. A sloppy website may indicate unreliable content.
Be Wary of Emotional Appeals – Fake news often relies on strong emotional reactions—anger, fear, or excitement—to encourage sharing. If a story makes you feel extreme emotions, pause and verify its credibility.
Use Fact-Checking Websites – Platforms like Snopes, FactCheck.org, and PolitiFact help debunk misleading claims and verify information.
Watch Out for Your Biases – We all have them. Confirmation bias is a sneaky little devil that makes us want to believe things that confirm what we already think. Lateral reading helps you fight this by forcing you to consider different perspectives and evidence, even if it challenges your deeply-held beliefs. The website AllSides.com can help you tell if a website or news source is politically biased.
Beware of Clickbait – If a headline makes you want to scream or share it immediately, that's a red flag. Emotional language and clickbait titles are often used to manipulate you. Take a deep breath, do some lateral reading, and see if the story holds up.
Check the Comments – 99 percent of what you find in the comments will be useless. Occasionally, however, someone will accurately call out the fake news or misinformation and provide legitimate links and data. If somethings seems off, I often skim the comments to see if anyone else is calling BS.
Believing and spreading fake news can have serious consequences. It can influence elections, fuel harmful conspiracy theories, and create unnecessary panic. In academic settings, relying on fake news can lead to misinformation in research and weaken arguments in essays. If you are struggling to verify if an article is legitimate or fake, ask your instructor.
It is also important not to dismiss legitimate news or disregard reliable sources because you disagree with them. If you disregard everything you don't like as fake news, you'll miss out on a lot of important information.
As a college student, you have a responsibility to think critically and verify information before sharing it. Be able to spot and avoid fake news and misinformation will help you become a better writer and researcher, and it will help you contribute to a more informed and truthful society (rather than just being part of the problem).
It only takes a few seconds to read laterally and to verify if what you are reading is legit or fake. By staying vigilant and questioning the information you encounter, you can reduce the spread of fake news and make informed decisions based on facts rather than falsehoods.
You might also save yourself a lot of embarrassment down the line.