How to Identify and Avoid Falling for Fake News
Trending music and celebrity gossip aren’t the only things that spread quickly—fake news also finds its way quickly across social media.
From social media propaganda to the forwarded messages sent to our mothers’ WhatsApp “platforms”, we are all constantly exposed to fake news, which can have far‐reaching impact on our decisions, actions, and even our inactions.
In today’s blog post, we will be focusing on effective strategies for identifying and combating fake news drawing inspiration from one of our workshop led by Daniel Ojukwu. You can find the recording of the workshop here.
What is Fake News?
Fake news refers to any false or misleading information that poses as legitimate news. It is any false content that is presented as news and communicated in varying formats such as spoken, written, printed, electronic, and digital communication.
Fake news could be intentional inaccurate stories or stories that contain elements of truth but are broadly inaccurate. It could reduce the impact of real news by competing with it.
Fake news has caused deaths during health emergencies like Ebola and spread false information that led to people refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.
Another instance, a 2023 BBC report highlighted how several websites created around the time of Nigeria’s general elections were reaching thousands of people.
Oftentimes, fake news sets out to damage the reputation of a person or body, or make money through advertising revenue. If you followed the 2023 Nigerian general election, you most likely came across fake news websites or misleading headlines.
From the sharing of misleading videos that purported to show ballot-stuffing during the election to false information about Nigerian statesmen like Obasanjo, social media was heated with all sorts of fake news.
The Three Musketeers Of Fake News
Misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation spread rapidly and often masquerade themselves as the truth. But what exactly do these terms mean? What’s the difference between them?
Misinformation is a form of information disorder whereby false information is shared despite the author’s best intentions. They are innocent mistakes or mistakes resulting from the author’s reliance on unreliable sources.
Disinformation, on the other hand, is deliberate. It is information intentionally spread to cause panic, push propaganda, earn favours, or to cause harm in whatever way.
Malinformation is information that is spread to ridicule an individual, organisation, country or brand. If you’ve ever come across any sort of information that leaves you thinking “but how is this necessary in this context?”, you’ve likely encountered malinformation.
The information may be true, but it usually has no relevance in the public space or in any context whatsoever. Examples include leaked messages, unflattering photos or videos, gossip, or exaggerated facts.
The Way Out
One of the ways to combat these information disorders is through a “fact‐checking process” which involves verifying the accuracy of information by evaluating evidence and debunking false claims. This process typically involves:
- Stating The Claim: The first step in the fact-checking process is to clearly state the claim being investigated. This involves identifying the specific statement or assertion that requires verification. It is important to ensure the claim is accurately represented and understood as it sets the foundation for the entire fact-checking process.
- Gathering Evidence For/Against The Claim: Here, relevant information and materials that support or refute the claim is collected. This involves seeking out primary sources, such as original documents, or secondary sources like news articles or expert opinions. Considering multiple viewpoints is essential to ensuring comprehensive understanding.
Evaluate the credibility and reliability of sources without letting your bias in. It is important to separate the message from the messenger. Gather both corroborating and contradictory evidence to provide a well-balanced assessment. - Verifying Evidence Using Credible Sources: Verification involves examining the gathered evidence against credible sources to determine its accuracy. Consult reputable fact-checking organizations or websites, government records, and established experts in relevant fields.
Cross-check information across multiple sources to identify inconsistencies. - Evaluating Findings: During evaluation, critically assess the verified evidence to determine its implications for the claim you originally stated. Consider how strong and relevant the evidence is within the context of the claim. Identify the flaws in the evidence and acknowledge any uncertainties or ambiguities. Make sure to avoid making assumptions as this stage enables a thorough understanding of the claim’s validity.
- Rendering A Verdict: Last but not least, this final step involves rendering a judgment on the claim’s accuracy based on the evaluated evidence. Verdicts can either be “True”, “False”, “Misleading”, “Unproven”, “Mostly True”, or “Mostly False.” Be transparent about the reasoning behind the verdict, clearly explaining the evidence and evaluation process.
This helps so others that want to verify your conclusions can understand your point of view and how you came about your verdict. Whatever your verdict is, it should clearly reflect the rigor and objectivity of the fact-checking process.
Final Words…
While fact-checking is important and all, it’s only one method in addressing the root causes of fake news. Some other methods include:
- Promoting media literacy.
- Being cautious of emotional appeals (don’t choose emotions over facts).
- Encouraging fact based discussions.
- Supporting fact-checking organizations.
- Utilizing the “report” or “flag” mechanisms when you come across inaccurate information on social media platforms.
By acknowledging our shared responsibility of combating fake news, we are slowly reclaiming the narrative and fostering a culture of critical thinking amongst the Nigerian people. This collective effort will safeguard our democracy and help us build a society grounded in truth and informed decision-making.
FactCheck Africa’s AI Tool to Combat Fake News
FactCheck Africa has developed an innovative AI tool that allows users to verify news within seconds on a simple web page, which is also translatable in five languages. This tool is designed to help combat the spread of misinformation in real time. You can check it out here: https://myaifactchecker.org/fact/.
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ALSO READ: How to Be an Active Citizen: Get Involved, Stay Informed!
