Much of this news is legitimate, but a lot is what is referred to as 'fake news.'
The Macquarie Dictionary defines fake news as “disinformation and hoaxes published on websites for political purposes or to drive web traffic” and “the incorrect information being passed along by social media."
Check out this great summary:
Source: IFLA https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:How_to_Spot_Fake_News.jpg
Consider the sources. Click away from the story to investigate the site, its mission and its contact info.
Read beyond. Headlines can be outrageous in an effort to get clicks. What's the whole story?
Check the author. Do a quick search on the author. Are they credible? Are they real?
Supporting sources? Click on those links. Determine if the info actually given supports the story.
Check the date. Reposting old news stories doesn't mean they're relevant to current events.
Is it a joke? If it is too outlandish, it might be satire. Research the site and author to be sure.
Check your biases. Consider if your own beliefs could affect your judgement.
Ask the experts. Ask a librarian or consult a fact-checking site.
On the lands that we study, we walk, and we live, we acknowledge and respect the traditional custodians and cultural knowledge holders of these lands.
