via TikTok (sea otter); Mauricio Handler/National Geographic/Getty Images (whale); Shutterstock.com (all other images)

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Can You Spot the Fake?

False information seems to be everywhere online. Here’s what you need to look out for. 

September 30, 2024
By Ellen Song

As You Read, Think About: What are some reasons people share false information online?

Indiana residents were alarmed. Last December, a social media post claimed that two lions had escaped from the Indianapolis Zoo. The post included a photo of lions walking outside at night. Within hours, it had been shared more than 20,000 times.

But the post was fake. The zoo explained that no animals had escaped. The photo in the post had actually been taken in 2015 in South Africa. 

The post is one of countless examples of online disinformation. That’s false or inaccurate information that is meant to purposely mislead people. 

It’s never been easier to create and share content online. Just about anyone can edit photos, videos, and audio clips—or create entirely new ones that seem real.

That can make fakes hard to spot. According to a recent survey, only 23 percent of adults said they felt very confident that they could identify false information. 

That’s a problem because not all fake content is harmless. It’s often meant to trick people into thinking or acting a certain way. 

Here are some tips to help you tell fact from fiction. 

Don’t Get Fooled by Fake Photos
Watch a video to learn how to spot a hoax.

Tip: Check your emotions.

News from reliable sources is meant to inform. It gives people facts so they can make up their own minds about events and issues. 

False information, however, is often meant to get a strong emotional reaction from people. We’re more likely to believe disinformation that makes us scared or angry, according to the American Psychological Association. 

Around election time, fake content can be used to affect Americans’ opinions about a candidate and change how they vote. 

“Even though you can’t vote, understanding what’s true and what’s not helps everyone make better decisions,” says Jamie Nuñez of Common Sense Media. That organization aims to help kids spot false information online. 

Tip: Consider the source.

It’s important to understand where information you see online comes from. Reporters from reliable news organizations do a lot of research. They interview sources and make sure their facts are correct. 

Now think of your favorite YouTubers. Their goal is probably to entertain you. Many online stars are called influencers. They try to get people to think or feel a certain way, or to persuade them to buy something. They often do that with opinions, not facts. And having millions of followers just means they’re popular. It doesn’t mean you can trust everything they say. 

Tip: Think like a detective. 

Fake articles, photos, and videos seem to get harder to spot each day. But there are still some basic steps you can follow to identify them. It starts with being skeptical. 

“Ask yourself, ‘Is this really real?’” suggests Nuñez. If your gut tells you something seems fake, you’re probably onto something. Then you need to dig deeper.

“Understand what the clues are, and look for them,” Nuñez explains. 

If the clues point to disinformation, make sure you don’t share the post. And let your friends know if the content they share is fake. 

“Sharing correct information will allow us to build trust with others,” Nuñez says.

Real vs. Fake

Even real news can be hard to believe sometimes. But answering these questions can usually lead to the truth.

 

Who posted it?

The sea otter post was made by CBS News, a trusted news organization that has been around since 1927. But if you research the account that shared the whale post, donotbfooled, you’ll see it’s not reliable. 

 

What do other sources say?

Many other respected news sources reported the strange (but true!) story of the surfboard-eating sea otter. The only news you might find about the whale and surfer is that the story is a hoax.

1. Based on the article, why is online disinformation getting harder to spot?

2. What does the author mean when she advises people to “check your emotions” when trying to spot false information online?

3. How do influencers differ from news reporters? Consider their goals and the kinds of content they share.

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