Image: Free Press 
Fake news became a hot topic during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, when it was reported that a group of enterprising Macedonian teenagers had created over 100 websites containing false information about American politics. This information was shared hundreds of thousands of times by Facebook users who believed it to be true. Did all this fake news influence voters enough to affect the election results? The experts still have differing opinions on that, but one thing's for sure:
When you have to make an important decision, you do not want that decision to be based on fake news.
Plus, sharing fake news can damage your credibility. Even the smartest people get fooled sometimes, but the more often you share information that turns out to be false, the harder it will be for your friends and followers (not to mention your teachers and employers) to take you seriously.
The Macedonian teenagers are not, of course, the first people ever to spread fake news, and they won't be the last. Fake news isn't going away any time soon, and it isn't the only problem. Information that isn't fake can still be misleading or misinterpreted.
Think you know how to tell if something's fake?
You might want to think again. In 2016, researchers at Stanford University found that when it comes to judging the credibility of online information, "otherwise digital-savvy students can be easily duped."
So, what can we do?
In the past few years, companies like Google have taken steps toward reducing the amount of fake news on their sites. It's a start, but if you really want to avoid fake news and misleading information, you have to take some of the responsibility yourself. How? By learning to think critically about the information you encounter, and by taking the time to verify information before using or sharing it. The resources in this libguide can help.
More than just a list of definitions, this libguide's glossary is enhanced with detailed explanations, examples, links, videos, and food for thought about fighting fake news.
Ready to learn how to spot fake news? Here are a few quick-start guides:
This curated list of articles explores new developments in the fight against fake news.
BE ADVISED: The browser extensions listed below are designed to alert you when the information you're seeing online is from a fake or questionable source. These tools can be helpful, but they should not be considered substitutes for doing your own fact-checking and critical analysis. Use with discretion.
Need data? Be sure they come from reputable sources. Here are just a few:
Librarians are available to assist you.
Contact your campus library Reference Desk.
Photo from: A Well-traveled Message
MDC students and employees have free access to over 100 subscription-based library databases. The following databases are useful for finding articles on news and current issues.
If prompted to log in, enter your MDC username and password.
Want to learn more about fighting fake news and finding reliable information? LIS 2004 (Strategies for Online Research) is a one-credit course designed to help you use the internet more effectively. Contact a librarian for more information.
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"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who has said it, even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense." --Buddha
(Probably the best advice you'll see on this website, but did the Buddha really say it?)
This page was created and is maintained by
Jenny Saxton.