There are four broad categories of fake news, according to Melissa Zimdars, assistant professor of Communication and Media of Merrimack College. These aren't necessary to know, but they can be incredibly helpful in identify potential fake news.
CATEGORY 1: Fake, false, or regularly misleading websites that are shared on Facebook and social media. Some of these websites may rely on “outrage” by using distorted headlines and decontextualized or dubious information in order to generate likes, shares, and profits.
The Sun (UK) uses sensationalized titles to draw readers in that don't always tell the full truth. One of their biggest controversies was their coverage of the Hillsborough Disaster. Fed false information from police, The Sun ran with a story that placed the blame on the victims of the accident instead of the negligence that caused it. You can read the full story here.CATEGORY 2: Websites that may circulate misleading and/or potentially unreliable information
CATEGORY 3: Websites which sometimes use clickbait-y headlines and social media descriptions
CATEGORY 4: Satire/comedy sites, which can offer important critical commentary on politics and society, but have the potential to be shared as actual/literal news
While fake news and false reporting may not always be clear cut, it's good to understand where it falls. Satire may be passed around as truth, but it isn't as harmful as deliberate misinformation. This is the same case with clickbait, it is annoying, but usually not harmful or dangerous.
How well can you spot fake news? This screencap looks to be an article posted on BBC News and you probably wouldn't realize it wasn't real unless you look at the actual URL. Something that's really tricky to navigate is that the story is based in fact, but the details are smudged.
This farmer isn't Nepalese and his bananas aren't diseased--he was actually showing some of the damage from a storm that passed through the Caribbean. The wilting disease affecting bananas is actually called the "Panama disease" and it's caused by fungus. Gros Michel isn't even a disease, it's a banana! However, most people don't know why bananas are going extinct, and may just take this article at face value. Considering all we're lying about is bananas, this may seem inconsequential, but the real danger is that people lie about much more important stuff than just bananas.
What would this kind of fake news be classified as? It would most likely fall in category one, as it is a fake website made from a generator. (Make your own fake story here!) Fake articles like this may also fall under category four if the intent is to be funny, but this is just plain misinformation.
Wanna kick it up to the next notch? The games on the right will take you through a journey of creating and finding fake news! Earn in-game badges, money, and real world knowledge in a fun and engaging way!
Fake It To Make It is a simulation-style game where players take on the role of someone creating and distributing fake news for profit. Players learn how misinformation is created, spread, and emotionally targeted, and leave better prepared to be skeptical of misinformation that they encounter in the future.
Players progress through the game by completing a series of intermediate goals that walk them through the gameplay mechanics and the basics of emotional targeting. They have relative freedom to create the types of sites and articles they’d like. However, the intermediate goals and financial incentives nudge them towards creating politically-divided sites, selecting articles that inspire negative emotions like fear and anger, and distributing their articles to politically sympathetic groups. These incentives are reality-based, in the hope that players will leave better understanding how fake news can spread in the real world, generate healthy skepticism, and investigate dubious claims. Learn how to spot fake news, and help reduce its reach. Description Source.
Factitious is a game for testing your skill at identifying fake and misleading news stories. The game was developed by the American University Game Lab and the American University's School of Communication. To play Factitious simply go to the site and select quick start. You'll then see an article appear on the screen. Read through the article, click the source listed at the bottom, and then select either the green check mark or red X to indicate whether or not you think the article is a real news story. After you make your selection you'll get instant feedback and an explanation of how you can tell if the article was a real or fake news story. Description Source.
Welcome to Newsably, a fictional social media site focused on news and information. Your mission? Maintain the site, grow traffic, and watch out! You'll also need to spot fake posts that try to sneak in through hidden ads, viral deception, and false reporting.
Choose Your Own Fake News is an interactive "choose your own adventure" game. Play the game as Flora, Jo or Aida from East Africa, and navigate the world of disinformation and misinformation through the choices you make. Scrutinize news and information about job opportunities, vaccines and upcoming elections to make the right choices!
