Avast Blog Tips & Advices: Banish fake news: think before you share

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How to identify fake news and prevent it from spreading.

While the internet is a wonderful tool for expressing your opinion instantly, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that people are quick to confuse opinions with hard, proven facts, thus spreading fake news. Many, many websites are fueled on attracting clicks as an almost blind reaction. Furthermore, have you ever shared a piece that you hadn’t even entirely read? When you decide to share, or “like” a story, you should maybe think twice about what it’s talking about and if it’s worth sharing. Our web is only as good as the content we put out and propagate.

Fake news: what the heck is it, actually?

Many people have been using the term fake news for the last few years, but do they actually know what it looks like? The term has been used so amorphously that it begs a more direct examination. Sensationalist fake news is often used to generate clicks onto a webpage to improve ad revenue. It has also been used to influence public thought. Though you would probably chuckle and dismiss the supermarket tabloids proclaiming the existence of bat boy, the internet can be a bit more subtle. What’s one to do when even reputable organizations like the New Yorker rely on satirical news columns to obtain knee-jerk clicks? By studying up a bit, humans can hopefully become more adept at spotting fakes online. Let’s check out a few fantastic examples of fabricated news flashes.

Was there a human head transplant?

No, indeed, there wasn’t, the Guardian reports. After Italian doctor Sergio Canavero claimed to be undertaking such an operation, stories about a successful head transplant circulated on various fake news sites. If you saw this item, would you click on it? Here you have a nice little nugget of fake news.

Did Michael Jordan leave Nike?

Some fake news is clearly preposterous, while some of it rests slightly closer to reality. In the wake of controversial quarterback Colin Kaepernick becoming the new face of a big Nike campaign, this item about MJ gained a lot of traction. Guess what? Politifact debunked it.

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