What Can You Do About Fake News?
Social media companies have often been reluctant to address the fake news problem on their platforms, so what can you do as an individual to combat the spread of fake news?
- Be aware of your own biases when reading news stories.
- Recognize and resist emotional manipulation by fake news stories (ask yourself -- is this story trying to scare me or make me angry?).
- Understand that someone is profiting from fake news and your clicks; exercise click restraint and patience when reading online information.
- Evaluate news by fact-checking and reading laterally before you share it.
- Reply to the person who posted a fake news story asking for its original source and evidence.
- Share a corrected version of fake news when you find it and explain how the misinformation was created.
- Escape from your social media filter bubble that feeds you news confirming your biases; follow people and pages with different viewpoints and perspectives.
- Go directly to reputable news sources for your news. (See the "Accessing Reliable News" page on this guide for a list of DCCC news sources you can use.)
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. (2017). How to spot fake news infographic. https://www.ifla.org/news/real-solutions-to-fake-news-how-libraries-help/