Evaluating Sources: Fake News

Fake news encompasses false, including entirely fabricated news stories with no verifiable sources or facts. Fake news stories are born of mis- or disinformation and can take the form of propaganda or clickbait. Most Americans get their news through some sort of feed—usually social media. Unfortunately, these platforms are made for quick glances, rather than long-form reading. The number of people "sharing" news stories makes it easy for misinformation to spread at a remarkable pace.

There is no one trick to identifying fake news, it all relies on your being skeptical and engaging critically with the information you consume. If something seems fishy, or if you can only find one source presenting information, then take a few minutes to think about it before you share it. Explore some of the tips below to better your fake news identification skills!