Fake news

By Lidia Tokarczyk

FAKE NEWS

In this presentation I am going to discuss how fake news spread and how to identify a case of false information.

These sources are great, because we can be sure that the texts were written by professionals who know what they are talking about - so that we can be sure that it's the truth.

1. https://www.summer.harvard.edu/inside-summer/4-tips-spotting-fake-news-story2.https://www.bbc.com/news/52124740

Sources I am using:

I think it is really important to spread awareness that not everything that we see (especially on social media) is true and that before we believe in it and pass it on, we should learn something more about it and do our research.

In my CASE STUDY I will be talking about fake news concerning the Coronavirus and in what way can it be a threat.

In this presentation I will show you four tips that will help you while figuring out if the information you just saw is true or not.

But how exactly can you spot a fake news story?

• Who is the author? - do we know anything about him, has he published something else
• Would the publishing site meet academic citation standards? - the site doesn't have to be accurate even if it is popular
• Is there any detailed information about the site? - about the publisher, leadership
• What is the site called? - maybe it has a similar name to a well-known site to appear as credible

Check if the publisher is trustworthy.

TIP no. 1

• Can you see any spelling mistakes? Does the text have many words written in CAPS LOCK? Does it overuse punctuation?
• Does the story feel current or old? - some of it can also be taken out of context

Take a look at the quality of the text and the timeline

TIP no. 2

• How was the article found? - was it reposted on social media or is it on a site known for clickbait
• What people are quoted in this text? - if the text doesn't have many quotes and doesn't name the sources, proceed with caution
• Where is the information available? - is it on other sites as well or not
• Can you find the original sources or images?

Vet the sources and citations.

TIP no. 3

• Have you been to a fact-checking website? Some like FactCheck.org, International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), PolitiFact.com, or Snopes.com are great. Try to do your own research and focus on distinguishing facts and fiction

Ask the professionals

TIP no. 4

SUMMARY

Take a look at the quality of the text and the timeline

Vet the sources and citations.

Check if the publisher is trustworthy.

Ask the professionals

I found this post claiming that inhaling steam has helped coronavirus patients' recovery - it has been spreading across social media.

We don't really know who the author is, we don't know who the patient is, there are no detailed information, no quotes, no contact information, it was posted on Facebook, available to everyone - it's clear that the news is fake.

CASE STUDY

Yet, it has been shared more than 40,000 times. It appears to come from a Facebook user in Durham, who wrote that he heard "first hand that a doctor who had Coronavirus recovered in double quick time" after inhaling steam.A similar message has taken different forms - coming from someone's "sister in London", "Queens NY" and "a sister from Pakistan".There's no evidence that steam inhalation works as a treatment for coronavirus.

This advice is also potentially harmful.High-temperature steam-cleaning of surfaces in hospitals and elsewhere does destroy the coronavirus (as well as other types of viruses) says Prof Keith Neal, a specialist in the study of the spread of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham.However, any attempt to inhale steam at this temperature, would be extremely dangerous and risk burns.Your body's cooling system would kick in to limit the rise in temperature, says Prof Neal, and your lungs would certainly be irreparably damaged before reaching a temperature high enough to deactivate the virus.

Thank you for your attention!