In the current world in which we live, we have access to all the news available with a single click. This has led to an epidemic of Overinformation or Fake News not only in health, but throughout the worldwhere we receive an amount of data that far exceeds our capacity to processing and assimilation. This information overload is, contrary to what it may seem, counterproductive.
What is fake news?
The fake news They are a type of pseudo-journalistic content that is disseminated through different media, such as Internet portals. news, print media, television, radio or social networks. The ultimate goal of its spread is to generate misinformation in the public. Thus, seeks to deceive, manipulate the decisions of individualsdiscredit or exalt figures and institutions, etc.
How can Fake News be detected?
Because the fake news in health and in different areas are a very present reality today, it is pertinent that each and every one of us adopt an attitude of responsibility, learning to filter those false content of those that are true. In this sense, there are some guidelines that can help you make this distinction and not let yourself be manipulated by the hoaxes that circulate on the internet.
Remember that, when in doubt, you should never share, otherwise you are perpetuating a chain that seeks to deceive people.
How to recognize Fake News in health? 10 keys to detect fake news
1. Pay attention to the headline
The headline can be a good first clue to whether or not we are dealing with fake news. Normally, the fake news they are characterized by excessively flashy, surprising and unbelievable labels. If you detect a headline with these characteristics, it is highly likely that you are facing false information. In that case, do not fall into the trap and avoid entering the game of clickbait. What for you is just a click, can mean huge amounts of money for a scammer who profits from deceiving others.
Every journalistic article is signed by an author with name and surname. For this reason, read a news without an authorship Clara should raise your suspicions. When it comes to anonymous content, it is very possible that it is a fake news.
3. Look at the middle or platform
The newspapers and Serious portals are not dedicated to spreading fake newss, as this could get them into serious trouble and destroy their journalistic reputation. For this reason, these types of hoaxes are usually published by unknown means, which in most cases we have never seen before. To avoid falling into manipulation, try to read only those news that appear on reputable sites that are based on rigor.
4. Do not value exclusivity
When a news is real, it is highly unlikely that it will be published on a single portal. In the end, all the media end up echoing it and publish it with nuances, although always respecting the core message. When we come across a fake news, this is probably a News only seen in a single portal, oblivious to the uniformity of truthful information.
5. Attention to format
The format of the fake news It is usually much more striking than that of the true information. In hoaxes, strategies such as excessive colors or the use of capital letters are used, in order to awaken at all costs the reader’s attention. If you see this type of editing in an article, be wary.
6. Check the date
In any serious and rigorous environment, all news They are marked with their exact date of publication, even detailing the specific time. However, fake news they usually have outdated dates and may not even show this detail when they are broadcast.
7. Writing quality
The media Serious take care of every little detail of the information they publish. In this way, the quality of the writing of a real news must be excellent, with a good use of punctuations, a orthography devoid of any errors and neat writing. When the wording of the text It is poor and has several errors, ask yourself if you are facing a possible hoax.
8. The use of visual elements
All news They are supported by elements such as photographs or videos to improve understanding of the news and support its reading. As is the case with the drafting, serious media always choose their images carefully. Instead, hoax portals use exaggerated imagesretouched, of poor quality and taken out of context.
9. Check the web address
Although the creators of hoaxes take pains to imitate the URLs of serious portals, there are subtle details that can be detected when we compare the originals and the copies.
10. Possibility of verification
Unlike what happens with true information, the facts that are collected in false news are hardly verifiable, since there is no evidence that can support them. Therefore, make a brief investigation to check it can be useful to know whether or not you should distrust what you read.
CONCLUSION
Although the spread of false information has existed for centuries, the arrival of information and communication technologies have allowed its spread at a much faster and more intense level. Because these hoaxes are a very harmful reality, individuals must take a responsible stance and learn to filter the abundant information they receive.
Fake news is usually posted on unknown portals, has unverifiable content, is poorly written and edited, is unsigned and undated, and is often not common to different websites, but rather is posted in isolation.
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