The term ‘Fake News’ was
named Word of the Year 2017 by the Collins Dictionary, after it saw an
unprecedented usage increase 365% since 2016. Unfortunately, it was the 2016 US
Presidential election that motivated this avalanche of fake news created to
sway public opinion, favor some candidates and sow discord went viral.
A recent study conducted by the
Politics Department at Princeton University revealed that one in four Americans read at
least one false news story purposely fabricated to mislead. Understandably, the
magnitude of this problem has election officials looking for ways to create appropriate
conditions for future elections. Having correct information available for all
voters is a crucial condition for all free, fair and transparent elections.
Luckily, non-governmental
organizations, academics, journalists and communications experts are now
joining election officials in trying to educate the population on how to detect
and combat fake news.
Here are three tips recommended
to stop the spread of false information:
-
Identify the source and follow your
instinct: In this
digital era, thousands of web pages and social media accounts are created each
day. Therefore, when you read an article, you must check the reliability and
trajectory of the journalist, “influencer” or media outlet.
In case you do not recognize who is
behind the piece, it is always good to google the headline or part of the story
to see if it has been replicated in other reliable outlets.
-
Follow the Three S rule: Before sharing a piece of news, first STOP to
think if the title of the article is relevant. It may be pure clickbait material.
Then, do your SEARCH on the author of the article to verify its veracity. And
last but not least, SUBSCRIBE to newsletters or bulletins of reliable media to receive
truthful and accurate information.
-
Use tools for fact check: Given how fake news have proliferated, and
the impact they have had, many fact-checking organizations or media outlets
have emerged. Factcheck.org, Politifact and Snopes can come
handy for those who want to know if something is real or the product of a Fake
News laboratory.
In addition to these
tips, it is important to keep in mind that, during a campaign period, you
should always keep an eye on social networks, making a lists of verified
accounts of political parties, media and candidates to follow.
And one last
recommendation. Do not get carried away by what others share. Develop your own
database. By doing so, not only will you stay safe and informed, but you will
educate others by sharing truthful and reliable news.
