Facebook’s tips for spotting fake news

Use each of these tips for spotting fake news to complete sentences below

1)    Be sceptical of headlines

2)    Check the dates

3)    Check the evidence

4)    Check the photos

5)    Check the source

6)    Is the story a joke?

7)    Look at other reports

8)    Look closely at the URL

9)    Some stories are intentionally false.

10) Watch for unusual formatting

1)  _______________________ The headlines of fake news stories are often catchy, and contain lots of capital letters and exclamation marks. If claims in the headline sound unbelievable, they may well be.

2)  _______________________  Many false news stories mimic authentic news sources by making small changes to the site address. You can go to the site to compare them to established sources.

3)  _______________________ Ensure the story comes from one with a reputation for accuracy. If the story comes from a site you have not heard of, check their “About” section to learn more.

4)   _______________________ Many false news stories often contain spelling and grammar errors, as well as an awkward looking layout.

5)  _______________________ False news stories often contain manipulated images or videos. Sometimes the y may be authentic, but taken out of context. You can do an internet search of the image to find out where it came from.

6)  _______________________ Fake news stories may contain timelines that make no sense, or event dates which are wrong or have been altered.

7)   _______________________ Check the author’s sources to confirm they are accurate. Lack of confirmation, or a reliance on unnamed experts may indicate false news.

8)   _______________________ If no other news source is reporting the same story, it could indicate that it is false.

9)  _______________________ Sometimes false news stories can be hard to distinguish from humourous articles. Check whether the source is known for parody, and whether the story’s details and tone suggest it may be just for fun.

10)                _______________________ Think critically about the stories that you read, and only share articles which you know to be credible.

KEY

1)    Be sceptical of headlines.

2)    Look closely at the URL.

3)    Check the source.

4)    Watch for unusual formatting.

5)    Check the photos.

6)    Check the dates.

7)    Check the evidence.

8)    Look at other reports.

9)    Is the story a joke?

10) Some stories are intentionally false.