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Statistics
4 in 5 Singaporeans confident in spotting fake news but 90 per cent wrong when put to the test: Survey
4 in 5 Singaporeans confident in spotting fake news but 90 per cent wrong when put to the test: Survey
The Straits Times
PUBLISHED SEP 27, 2018, 1:23 PM SGTThe Straits Times
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
We can observe how people in Singapore are very confident and feel like they are able to look out for fake news on the internet.
Yet, in actual fact, they are mostly unable to identify fake news articles. This shows how there are still many threats on the internet that people are unaware of. Hence, we should always stay vigilant and never let our guard down, so as to stay safe on the internet.
What is Fake News
What is Fake News
They are information (news, stories or hoaxes) created to purposely mislead or deceive readers.
They trick people by looking like trusted websites, or by using similar names as reputable organizations.
They can be also called false information, and it is advised for them to be called false information instead, as it can refer to a wider range of disinformation.
They are created to:
They are created to:
Influence people's views
Push a political agenda (changing a policy, law, etc.)
Create confusion (in times of conflict)
It may simply be a profitable business for online publishers
Types of false information:
Types of false information:
Clickbait
Clickbait
This refers to stories purposely made up to gain more views, and normally disregard truth or accuracy
Propaganda
Propaganda
Articles containing propaganda deliberately misleads audiences, or promotes a biased point of view or a certain political cause
Misleading headlines
Misleading headlines
Misleading headlines are not completely false, but information may be twisted to make people believe certain facts/ideas
Biased news
Biased news
Biased news refers to news or stories that are one sided, based on the person's personal beliefs and views.
Dangers or false information
Dangers or false information
- Confusion/fear in a community
No one knows what is real and reliable on the internet, resulting in mistrust and confusion among the community.
- Racist ideas
Certain articles may include racist opinions attacking certain religious groups that are not true. This may result in incorrect opinions/ideas being spread to other people.
- Violence against innocent people
There may be false rumors targeting certain people. This causes people to jump to conclusions and target them.
- Democratic issues
False information may sway the people's opinions on politics, which will change the way people see/trust the government. This may impact the country's democratic process.
- Financial impacts
People may start buying certain products that are not as good as advertised
- Impact on health
Diet methods that may be bad/unhealthy for some may be recommended on such websites
Identifying false information and stopping it
Identifying false information and stopping it
Check the facts- Look out for incorrect dates and altered timelines, check when the article was published, whether it is current or old news
Take a closer look
Take a closer look
Check the source of the story, find out more about the author in the "about section".
Look beyond the headline
Look beyond the headline
Check the entire article, often the headlines of fake news stories are in all caps and use exclamation points
Check other sources- Are there any reputable news reporting on the story? Do the sources in the story even exist?
What to do if you find out about false information:
What to do if you find out about false information:
Do not share it- By sharing it, you are making its publisher money
Report it immediately so that it can be taken down
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