False Information
Fake news is information that is false, misleading, or exaggerated that has been shared on news sources, the internet, social media platforms, or by word of mouth, etc. Fake news articles are designed to manipulate readers into believing the news that they are viewing. It often resembles news sources without credibility or accuracy.
Distinguishing Between Misinformation and Disinformation
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Misinformation is false information that was not shared with the intention of harm and can be written and shared due to a lack of understanding or knowledge on the subject matter.
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Disinformation is false information that was shared with the intention of harm. It is typically shared with the intention of deceiving the audience and tends to have a goal in mind.
(11 Ways to Spot Disinformation on Social Media, n.d.)
Statistics
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48% of youth are seeing misleading information every day, with more than 1 in 10 seeing it more than six times a day (Cawthorne, 2021).
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43% of youth have noticed their friends and/or fellow peers sharing misleading information or fake news online (Cawthorne, 2021).
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59% of youth are aware they are responsible to report potentially damaging, harmful or misleading content online, but are more likely to block misleading content (21%) than report it (16%), even though they are less likely to do either (Cawthorne, 2021).
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Social media is the most popular source of information for the ages 18-29. This demographic wants to interact with the news, comment, and be heard (Finding Solutions to the Issue of False Information Multiplied by Social Media | Annenberg, n.d.).
How can Fake News be Harmful?
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False information on important issues, such as healthcare, education, and advocacy, can influence everyday decision-making, healthcare choices, voting decisions, and much more.
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Can increase and promote social conflict and controversy
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Can generate mistrust in social structures, governmental agencies, or the healthcare system
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Can promote violence and hate speech
Key Signs that what you are Reading or Hearing is Fake News
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The information is unsupported. There are no references, non-anonymous quotes, or supporting evidence to the claims being made.
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News articles are written by non-professionals or people who are not qualified journalists.
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The information is not reported by other news sources.
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The information is from a fake site.
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News stories that appeal to strong emotions instead of facts.
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(11 Ways to Spot Disinformation on Social Media, n.d.)
Practical Guidance
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Verify the source and the information:
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Is there more than one source reporting on the same thing, or is this site the only place you have seen the information?
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Research news sources:
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choose news sources known for high-quality and investigative reporting. Search for sources directly. Social media presents information that reinforces your current views, not a balanced viewpoint.
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Length:
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Look for long articles that capture some of the complexity of topics and events. Short paragraphs are less likely to capture the full picture.
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Reflect:
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Pause and reflect on news that brings up strong emotions, positive or negative.
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Do a search on the author
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Are they credible or real?
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Check the Date:
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Reposting old news does not make them relevant to current events.
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Check your biases:
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Consider if your own beliefs could be affecting your judgement on the news.
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Read More:
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Headlines can be eye-catching in an effort to get clicks. Make sure you are reading from a diverse set of sources and not just articles that act to draw your attention.
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Ask an Expert:
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Ask a librarian or check with a fact-checking site.
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(Spotting Fake News – U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, n.d.)
What to do if Spotted
If you see a story that has been posted is false, say something. It is important to report false information when spotted, especially if there are many comments or shares validating the information that has been posted. With many social media platforms removing their fact-checking algorithms, there is a lot of false information being spread and it is important now more so than ever to report mis-/dis-information when spotted.
Resources/Links
Headstart Kernow Digital Resilience
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This provides resources to help make informed judgements on online risk by young people.
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This is a newsletter providing the latest news about topics in news literacy, including trends in misinformation and AI.
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This website allows you to ask a question, fact check a piece of information, and to see what other people have asked about.
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This website provides accurate, updated, and comprehensive information on controversial topics such as vaccines, climate change, and elections.
WHO: how to report misinformation online
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This website provides simple instructions on how to report false information on different social media platforms.
Sources
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11 ways to spot disinformation on social media. (n.d.). WhatIs. Retrieved March 24, 2025, from https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/feature/10-ways-to-spot-disinformation-on-social-media
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Cawthorne, B. (2021, February 8). Safer Internet Day Press Release 2021. UK Safer Internet Centre. https://saferinternet.org.uk/blog/safer-internet-day-press-release-2021
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Finding Solutions to the Issue of False Information Multiplied by Social Media | Annenberg. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24, 2025, from https://www.asc.upenn.edu/research/centers/milton-wolf-seminar-media-and-diplomacy/blog/finding-solutions-issue-false-information-multiplied-social-media
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Spotting Fake News – U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24, 2025, from https://www.tradoc.army.mil/social-media-fake-news/