The EU Parliament has proposed
five tips to follow in order to unmask lies and be an aware citizen.
1) Check the header
Do you know this means of information? Check their page “about” or “who we are”: if the tone is too dramatic, be skeptical. Who’s behind? Who finances it? Check what other authoritative sources say.
2) Check the author
Is this a real person? For every authoritative journalist there will be a quantity of work on the web that proves its professionalism. Check with an online search. If an author uses a false name, it is likely that other information that he disseminates is also false.
3) Check the sources
Does the author use authoritative sources in his article? Are the experts mentioned as real subject specialists? If the sources of information are anonymous or vague, the news could be false.
4) Think before sharing
The title can be tempting and generate many clicks. But it could also be a distortion of reality. Or be an old news. Or it could be satire. If the story is true, traditional media would talk about it. Make a comparison between multiple media before reaching conclusions.
5) Report fake news
Stay updated on the strategies used by those who want to spread false news. Report potential fake news. Sensitize your contacts.
Fake news EN_fin from European Parliament on Vimeo.