Why does it matter if we can’t tell real news from fake news?

What is fake news? false stories that appear to be news, spread on the internet or using other media, usually created to influence political views or as a joke. fake news: false news stories, often of a sensational nature, created to be widely shared online for the purpose of generating ad revenue via web traffic or discrediting a public figure, political movement, company, etc.

Why is fake news a problem? The internet has changed the way we view and create our own news and information. Fake news has been part of America’s media landscape since the colonial period, but the sheer volume of information at our fingertips today, thanks to social media, has changed the dynamics. https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-false-news-can- spread-noah-tavlin#watch Some 82% of middle-schoolers couldn’t distinguish between an ad labeled “sponsored content” and a real news story on a website, according to a Stanford University study of 7,804 students from middle school through college. 

Types of fake news Clickbait Satirical News News that shows highly partisan bias Outright invented news

Clickbait fake news Something designed to make readers want to click on a hyperlink especially when the link leads to dubious content.

How Clickbait works From the very first word in the headline, Blocks has you. “See” is a perfect opener to create the aforementioned information gap; alluding to something interesting or irresistible that people can’t afford to miss. The BIG (odd) number creates further intrigue. And it’s followed up by an urgency-creating, specific deadline. They even follow it up with two more uses of specific numbers, further increasing credibility with the opportunity to save 34% sale along with the 4,829 other backers.

Satirical fake news Satire websites are sites that make fun of the news.  The stories are typically over the top and meant to be funny.  The most famous satire site is The Onion. Typical Recent Headline: “Mom hasn’t said full, uninterrupted sentence to family since 1997”

Fake news with partisan bias Selectively-chosen but truthful elements of a story put together to serve an agenda. One of the most prevalent examples of this is the PR- driven science or nutrition story, such as 'x thing you thought was unhealthy is actually good for you‘ Bias is prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair. https://www.npr.org/sections/alltech considered/2016/11/23/503146770/np r-finds-the-head-of-a-covert-fake- news-operation-in-the-suburbs

Outright invented fake news Obama Signs Executive Order Banning The Pledge Of Allegiance In Schools Nationwide WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — Early this morning, President Obama  DECREED  what could very well prove to be the most controversial move of his presidency with the signing of Executive Order 13738, which revokes the federal government’s official recognition of the Pledge of Allegiance. Under the new order, it is now illegal for any federally funded agency to display the pledge or for any federal employee to recite, or encourage others to recite, the pledge while on duty. This law also applies to federal contractors and other institutions that receive federal funding such as public schools. Individuals who violate this order can face fines of up to $10,000 and up to one year in federal prison.

Consequences of fake news

How to choose your news Can you spot fake news? https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-to-choose-your-news-damon-brown Can you spot fake news? https://www.channelone.com/feature/q uiz-can-you-spot-the-fake-news-story/

Strategies for spotting fake news https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkwWcHek Mdo

Fact Checking Websites FactCheck.org  Snopes  Real or Satire  Politifact