Online issues and worries: fake news and misinformation

You may see unreliable information such as the following:

Fake news

Used by different people in different ways, fake news can describe lots of different types of inaccurate, unreliable or misleading content spread online. Sometimes the phrase ‘fake news’ is used by people to discredit information or opinions they do not like, whether it is accurate or not.

Misinformation

Misinformation means any inaccurate or false information spread online, including social media posts, photos, videos, memes and news stories. Misinformation can be shared accidentally when someone doesn’t realise what they are sharing is unreliable.

Disinformation

Disinformation is false information that is deliberately spread to mislead people.

Clickbait

Content like headlines or video titles designed to attract your attention and get you to click on something are referred to as clickbait.

Scams

Content that deliberately tries to trick people, often into sharing their personal information or money.

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Why do people share unreliable information?

There are lots of different reasons why someone might share something that’s unreliable online, – it could be as simple as not realising that it’s fake. Some unreliable stories and posts can be very convincing, and when people scroll through lots of posts in a day they can be difficult to spot.

Sometimes, people post misinformation because they know it will get lots of interactions (likes, views, shares). This means that the person who posted it could get money from advertisements, or more people looking at their account. Posts that trigger intense emotions, such as fear, anger, or excitement, tend to do better on social media, meaning that sometimes things are posted to get a reaction rather than to share accurate information. Misinformation can also be one small part of a longer article, post or piece of content. This can make it difficult to spot.

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Is misinformation dangerous?

Misinformation isn’t always dangerous, but it can be, especially when it affects people’s behaviour, opinions and choices. For example, misinformation about medical issues could lead to people making dangerous choices about their health, or fake news about investments could lead to people making poor financial decisions.

Sometimes unreliable content can promote harmful beliefs and undermine someone’s understanding of and respect for others, which could also lead to others being harmed. Some influencers may even post misinformation that is dangerous or extreme. This content can be particularly upsetting and sometimes breaks the law.

Thankfully there’s lots we can all do to prevent this from happening.

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What is fact-checking?

Fact-checking is the process of researching to find out if something is true or not. Anyone can fact-check something they have seen to find out if it is true by searching for different sources of information online and offline.

Because of how often fake news is shared online, there are now special fact-checking services available online where you can search for topics and find fact-checked stories. For example, Full Fact is an independent charity in the UK who aim to expose and challenge incorrect information.

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Are unofficial news sources always unreliable?

Unofficial news sources can still be reliable. On the internet, anyone can share their experiences as they happen. This means there are lots of different ways we can stay connected and understand what’s happening around the world, including through unofficial posts on apps like social media.

However, it is important to wait until you can fact-check news stories from a few different sources, and that you think critically about what you see online before taking it at face value.

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Someone I know has been sharing fake news, what should I do?

It can be difficult to know what to do when someone is sharing fake news online. If you have a good relationship with that person, and you feel comfortable, you could try talking to them about what they have shared and explaining that it isn't true.

If you are going to have this conversation, remember to be kind and respectful, and imagine how they might be feeling. If you think it would be useful, you could share a link to a fact-checking website, or an official source about the story they shared.

If you don’t feel comfortable talking to the person about what they have shared, you could try reporting their post. Reporting posts on social media is anonymous, so you can report something without the poster knowing it was you.

If you need to, talk to a trusted adult like a parent, carer or teacher who can help you manage the situation.

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I think I accidentally shared something fake, what can I do?

• Don’t panic if you realise you’ve shared something fake online. Everybody makes mistakes, and there are ways you can fix what’s happened.
• Make sure to delete your original post, just like you would with any other post you shared by mistake.
• Talk to the people who interacted with your post to let them know you made a mistake.
• If you’re worried that people might have already shared the post on, or believed what you posted, you could try making a quick post correcting yourself and include a link to a fact-checking site or a reliable information source on the topic.

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Can I report misinformation and disinformation online?

Many social media platforms now allow users to report fake or unreliable information that is being shared. If you see fake news on social media, it is worth using their reporting function, because it may lead to the post being taken down.