When you read a news item, consider the following questions:
Other warning signs to watch out for:
Finally, beware of sites that mix accurate news reporting with fake news. Some questionable websites post stories from reliable news feeds like Reuters and AP next to highly biased articles. Be sure to look for an author or original source for each individual article rather than judging the site as a whole.
Play Factitious - a game where the player tries to determine what's real.
Go to Spot the Troll and test your social media skills.
A slideshow demonstrating how quickly untrue stories
can spread on social media.
Created by Tripp Robbins using reporting from the New York Times
Many of the "news" items that come across your social media feed are there to sell advertising. More "clicks" means more eyeballs on a page, which means that site can make more money from advertisers who place ads on that site. Don't feed the clickbait monster! Yes we all love cuddly cats and bears; we want to see what happened to those childhood stars once they grew up; we are certain we will be outraged by the next "You Won't Believe This!" story. But remember: every time you click that "go to the next page" link, you are telling the designers of that website that their sneaky tactics are working, and you are making more money for that website.
And don't share the link! It just puts more money in the website owner's pocket.
For more information, read this (click the link - really!):
YOU'LL BE OUTRAGED AT HOW EASY IT WAS TO GET YOU TO CLICK ON THIS HEADLINE