How to outsmart fake news

The Star

2 days ago

HAVE you ever stumbled upon an article or video claiming that Jackie Chan died while performing one of his stunts, only to realise how absurd it sounds?
Death hoaxes like these have been around even before the Internet, yet somehow, people still fall for them. Why is it so difficult to separate fact from fiction?
Have we stopped to consider the impact of spreading misinformation? And shouldn't schools be doing a better job of improving students' media literacy skills?
Distinguishing fake news from the real deal isn't as tough as it seems. A simple trick is to check the publication date. Social media loves resurrecting old posts, which can easily mislead readers into believing outdated stories.
Remember during the movement control order, when videos about the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) were shared like wildfire, with people thinking they were related to Covid-19 – all because no one bothered checking the date?
The consequences were far-reaching. As these outdated videos spread, many people believed they were seeing real-time information, causing widespread panic.
The more those false claims were shared, the harder it became to reassure people, leading to increased fear, unnecessary precautions, and even hoarding behaviour.
If we had just paused for a moment to check the date, much of the confusion and panic could have been avoided. Ignoring these simple details allows misinformation to fester and spread, only worsening the situation.
Isabel: In an age where information moves at lightning speed, it's our job to be smarter about what we consume.
Another way to protect yourself is by carefully evaluating the source of the information. Fake news often comes from anonymous authors or websites that don't prioritise fact-checking.
Relying on just one source can be risky, as many of these sites skip crucial verification steps. Reputable news outlets feature credible authors and sources, so it's essential to know who's behind the information before you believe it.
A good example of this occurred after the tragic Boeing 737 Max crash in 2019. In the aftermath, social media was flooded with sensational posts claiming that every Boeing 737 Max was dangerously flawed and secretly being grounded to avoid a public disaster. These stories spread quickly, causing panic among travellers.
While the aircraft did have flaws, many of the claims circulating were grossly exaggerated or entirely fabricated. One particularly alarming post suggested that airlines were continuing to fly the planes without proper safety measures, despite clear warnings.
But a quick dive into reputable sources debunked these rumours, showing that the issue had been thoroughly addressed by aviation authorities.
This serves as a stark reminder of how easily misinformation can spiral out of control, causing unnecessary fear and confusion.
So, before you share that headline, stop and ask yourself: Who's behind this? Are they a credible source, or just looking for clicks?
With the speed at which misinformation spreads these days, it's more important than ever to approach everything we read with caution.
If an article is packed with sensational language or dramatic tones, it's a massive red flag. Genuine news tends to be neutral and based on facts.
And then there's confirmation bias – the sneaky habit we all have of believing stories that match our own views.
Fake news is particularly good at exploiting this. I once stumbled upon a headline that seemed to echo everything I already believed.
I was just about to share it, but something made me pause and look into it further. It turned out that the whole thing was a distortion of the facts.
It's why we all need to stay alert, question what we read, and make sure we're not unknowingly feeding the fire of misinformation.
In an age where information moves at lightning speed, it's our job to be smarter about what we consume.
Misinformation isn't just about looking foolish – it can cause panic, tear communities apart, and even impact real-world decisions.
So, the next time something catches your eye, pause and ask: Is this too wild to be true? Who's behind it, and what's their agenda?
In a world of viral headlines and posts, taking a moment to verify can make all the difference.
By being thoughtful and questioning what we read, we can help create a world where truth wins and misinformation takes a back seat. The truth doesn't need to be shouted – it just needs us to pay attention.
Isabel, 14, a student in Johor, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star's Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities.
1 Look in today's newspaper for a news story. Write six sentences about it – three containing facts and three containing fiction. Then, have your partner separate the facts from the fiction.
2 Create a poster with key tips for spotting fake news. You may include the tips shared by Isabel in her article or come up with your own. Be as creative as possible! When you're done, pin your poster on the classroom noticeboard.
The Star's Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme promotes English language learning in primary and secondary schools nationwide. For Star-NiE enquiries, email [e-mail].