Article published by Telus.com
In early July 2023, a news release from the Hamilton Police Service circulated regarding a crypto scam. Two Canadian teenagers known as Felon and Gaze scammed a victim in the US out of $4.2 million in Ethereum and Bitcoin.
Several local and international news organizations reported on the story. But guess what? It was fake news. Hackers spoofed a Hamilton Police Services email address (disguised their communication to appear to come from a trusted source) and sent out the fake news alert.
There's a lot of fake news out there, making it difficult for anyone consuming media to decipher fact from fiction. But it's important to know how to recognize fake news, verify what you're reading, avoid unreliable sources, and only share what's reputable.
Is it true or not?
Fake news is a broad umbrella, which according to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security includes:
Misinformation: false information spread without the intent to deceive
Disinformation: false information intended to deceive or manipulate
Misinformation: anchored in truth, but exaggerated to the point where it may be misleading and cause harm or damage
How can you tell what's real and what's fake? This is a really important question to ask – especially as we all consume more media online.
In our digital world, it can seem like everyone is an expert (think fitness, health, travel, motherhood to name a few) or has an opinion to share. There are so many interpretations of facts and so many opinions about what those facts mean. And then, there are also people and groups who aim to share fake news to advance their own harmful agendas, cause harm, or victimize innocent people.
As a baseline, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security reminds us that valid information is factually accurate, based on data that can be confirmed and is not misleading.
With that in mind, the Government of Canada offers some great advice on how to identify potential fake news. Be wary of content that:
Attempts to elicit a strong emotional reaction or response
Makes bold claims on controversial topics
Includes bait to entice you to click on the provided link (Get this fantastic offer! Watch this incredible video! Find out for yourself!)
Relies on valid information, but exaggerates or distorts it
Appears on platforms widely known for spreading misinformation
These tips are great for adults, but what about the kids in your life? Kids may not have fully developed the critical thinking skills that many adults have to decipher what’s real and what’s not. It’s important to help them hone those skills and become more media literate with tools designed specifically for them. TELUS partner MediaSmarts offers four simple steps to help youth and adults “Break the Fake” and understand what’s real online:
Use fact-checking tools
Find the original source
Verify the original source
Check other sources
Avoiding the fake news trap
Digital and social media offer great opportunities to explore your curiosity about almost any topic, stay current with news, and learn. How can you enjoy those opportunities productively while avoiding the trap of fake news?
Look for legitimacy: Many fake news stories live on fake websites (deceptive sites that pose as legitimate) and fake social media accounts. How can you tell? With websites, you can search for the name of the organization and compare the site you’re on to the page that appears in search results. You can also do a WHOIS domain lookup to verify the domain name and find out who owns it. For social media profiles, the Better Business Bureau offers some great tips for spotting fake accounts, including: reverse image search the profile picture to make sure it’s original and not copied from somewhere online, check the content for spelling errors, typos, bad grammar, or obvious bad translation, check if the person/organization is verified by the platform (e.g., a blue checkmark on Instagram), and be aware of whether posts include extreme views, questionable comments, or suspicious links.
Unfollow: If you follow a social media account(s) that consistently posts negative or questionable information from unreliable sources, unfollow them. You have the power (to some extent) to control what you see in your feeds.
Rely on reliable sources: Whether it’s health, politics, economics, or entertainment, it’s important to seek out reputable sources. Try to find unbiased accounts of events, or choose two or three sources that offer different perspectives for a well-rounded view. Remember, fake news often mimics legitimate news, and fraud is subtle and often difficult to detect.
Check before you share: It’s so common these days to share posts, stories, and videos that resonate with you. But it’s important to be responsible when sharing. Read the entire story or watch the entire video instead of just going by the headline. If you read or watch something and something seems wrong, check the facts before sharing. Snopes.com is a great fact-checking site to help you determine whether something is fact or fiction.
With the sheer volume of news available and the rise of smartphone journalists and armchair pundits, it's more important than ever to monitor your news consumption and approach it with a critical eye. In an age of diverse digital media, knowing how to distinguish fact from fiction is an important skill for staying responsibly informed and stopping the spread of fake news and the harm it can cause.