EDITORIAL: Real Fake News is Making us Stupid

Fake news is everywhere. When scrolling through our social feeds there it is. It may look real and it make seem at least possible, but is it?

Fake news consists of deliberate disinformation or hoaxes spread via traditional news media or online social media. The false information is often caused by reporters paying sources for stories, an unethical practice called checkbook journalism.

Many people share stories that they may or not even read. By sharing these links you are unknowingly sharing fake news and there's a good chance that if the story is interesting enough, some of you friends will share it too and so on.

Facebook says that if Pages or domains repeatedly create or share misinformation, they will significantly reduce their distribution and remove their advertising rights.

FactCheck.org is one of several organizations working with Facebook to debunk misinformation shared on the social media network.

The issue has gotten so bad that Facebook has provided some tips to spot fake news.

1. Be skeptical of headlines. False news stories often have catchy headlines in all caps with exclamation points. If shocking claims in the headline sound unbelievable, they probably are.

2. Look closely at the link. A phony or look-alike link may be a warning sign of false news. Many false news sites mimic authentic news sources by making small changes to the link. You can go to the site to compare the link to established sources.

3. Investigate the source. Ensure that the story is written by a source that you trust with a reputation for accuracy. If the story comes from an unfamiliar organization, check their "About" section to learn more.

4. Watch for unusual formatting. Many false news sites have misspellings or awkward layouts. Read carefully if you see these signs.

5. Consider the photos. False news stories often contain manipulated images or videos. Sometimes the photo may be authentic, but taken out of context. You can search for the photo or image to verify where it came from.

6. Inspect the dates. False news stories may contain timelines that make no sense, or event dates that have been altered.

7. Check the evidence. Check the author's sources to confirm that they are accurate. Lack of evidence or reliance on unnamed experts may indicate a false news story.

8. Look at other reports. If no other news source is reporting the same story, it may indicate that the story is false. If the story is reported by multiple sources you trust, it's more likely to be true.

9. Is the story a joke? Sometimes false news stories can be hard to distinguish from humor or satire. Check whether the source is known for parody, and whether the story's details and tone suggest it may be just for fun.

10. Some stories are intentionally false. Think critically about the stories you read, and only share news that you know to be credible.