How to Identify Fake News On Covid-19
- Anushree Chanda
- Feb 21, 2021
- 1 min read
As Covid-19 has become a part of our daily life, staying informed on the latest updates can be very misleading with the amount of fake news on the internet. Realistically, the majority of our information comes from social media as it's grown to be our most frequent pastime. While checking if the source is credited or not is one of the best strategies to distinguishing misleading information, sometimes it could be ineffective.
So, what else can work? Start by reading beyond the headline. Often, people use exaggerated or misleading headlines to grasp the reader's attention and clicks. If they've managed to convince you through the context and source, check the supporting evidence and its credentials. Suppose a post or article doesn't include any proper credentials/confirmation that's a red flag for false information; if you're hesitant if the information or sources or legit, most credible sources end in (.org or .gov).
Sometimes our personal bias can also divert our mind into believing what's written versus what we want to see. The best strategy however is just analyzing the headline and information itself. Does it make sense? Have any well known CREDIBLE sources mentioned this? Covid is a persistent and visible topic in our society today, so false information can affect a person's decision on their personal health/life. Before reposting or raising awareness on a topic, do your part by validating the data.
Sincerely,
Anushree Chanda
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