Summary
False information is all over the internet. especially in a time of crisis. However, it is important to be able to recognize this information. Here are five questions that can help you determine if information is true or false.
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You’ve probably been horrified at some of the reports from the Middle East in the past few days. However, amid the accurate reports from Israel and Gaza, there has also been a multitude of false information. Here are five questions that can help you recognize when news is true and when it’s fake.
For Personal Tech Media, this is Two Minute Tech. I’m Jim Herman.
First, ask what timestamps are available on the report. Sometimes the information reported is accurate, but it’s old. Looking at the timestamp on an article or a social media post can let you know if the report is current or outdated.
Second, ask if you’ve heard of the organization making the report. Registering a domain and setting up a website takes very little effort, but having a domain and a website doesn’t make the data on the site legitimate.
Third, ask if the headline seems overly dramatic or overly vague. Overly dramatic headlines usually mean the site is just looking for clicks to increase its advertising revenue.
Fourth, ask who wrote the article. If you click on the author’s name, you can usually view the author’s biography. Evaluate the author’s experience as a journalist or in the field being covered.
And fifth, ask what sources are cited in the story. While journalists do sometimes use anonymous sources, you should be hesitant to trust any report that relies on them. Most journalists will do a good job vetting their sources, but those who want to spread false information will often hide behind anonymous sources with no other evidence to support their claims.