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Is It Fact or Is It Fake? 10 Tips for Navigating Online Media

Tips and tricks to help you navigate online media in the era of fake news and misinformation.

Updated:

August 3, 2020

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Navigating the online media landscape has never been more challenging. The number of Americans who prefer to consume online news is increasing year after year, from 28% in 2016 to 34% in 2018(Pew Research, 2019). At the same time, the presence of fake news, misinformation, and online hoaxes is also surging, leading to confusion, frustration, and distrust in the media. In 2019 Pew Research reported that 57% of Americans expect the news they encounter on social media to be largely inaccurate.

In the face of these increasing challenges, it is very important to remain an informed, diligent and conscientious consumer of online media. Not only does this allow us to be informed and engaged citizens, but it also prevents us from inadvertently contributing to the spread of misinformation.

10 steps that you can take to become a savvy media consumer

and to determine whether an online source is trustworthy or not.

1. Investigate the source outlet

This is the most important first step to take in determining the validity of the piece of news you've read. Is the source of the information listed? Are statistics, quotes, and data within the news piece attributed? Is the source dedicated to publishing news or does it mostly publish opinion pieces? Is the source left-leaning, right-leaning, or neutral? This is important information to consider and will help you interpret what you're reading with the appropriate context.

2. Consider the author

Who wrote the article, took the photo, or created the video? Is the author a professional journalist or reporter? A politician? An activist? Learning background information about the author will help you make an informed decision about what biases or motivations the author may have, and whether or not they are a credible source of information.

3. Check the date

Look at when the article was published. On the internet, it is much easier to come across older or outdated information than it is in a newspaper, magazine, or radio news program. Therefore, it is particularly important that you check the date of an article found online. This simple step can go a long way in preventing confusion, frustration, and the spread of misinformation.

4. Look for corroborating sources

Can you find any other sources that have published information, photos, or videos that support or validate the information? Similarly, if the article cites a research study, look for other published studies in the same body of research and always remember to check if the research was published in a peer reviewed journal. Peer reviewed journal articles have already been evaluated by a panel of subject matter experts!

5. Quick fact-check

If you are unsure whether an article is credible, do a quick fact-check to assess the main claims that the article makes. There are a plethora of fact checking websites available online, and you can also be your own investigator by looking for corroborating information from sources that you already know to be reputable and/or scholarly. Another aspect of fact checking is researching the sources cited and the people quoted in the article. Are the people quoted in the article experts? Are the sources that are cited reputable?

6. Primary or secondary?

Determine whether the article is a primary or secondary source. A primary source is the original, first-hand account of the information. This could be the original report of a research study, a first-person story or account of an event, or an original text. A secondary source is a source that provides commentary or interpretation of a primary source. If the source you are reading is a secondary source, consider referring directly to the primary source(s) it cites to get the full context.

7. Consider the motivation

Why did this author publish this information in this way at this time? Is the article attempting to provide a balanced, impartial account or is it clearly providing a partisan, exaggerated, or sensationalized slant? Is the article meant to provoke an emotional response? Aid in a re-election campaign? Convince you to donate to a cause? Understanding the motivation behind the article will help you assess whether there are biases at play that affect the credibility of the information.

8. Background, history, context

If the article references subjects that you are relatively unfamiliar with, take it upon yourself to do your own background research on history and current affairs related to that subject. If you understand the full context of the issue at hand, it will be much easier for you to recognize potential inconsistencies, misinformation, or fake news that is related to that issue.

9. Examine your own biases

As human beings, we all have biases in our thinking that make us more likely to believe things that we agree with and less likely to believe things that we don't agree with. Examine how your own biases may be affecting the way that you interpret what you read. Are you less critical of sources that align with your political views? Are you willing to change your mind if presented with compelling evidence?

10. Resist the oversimplified

Finally, remember that most of the pressing issues facing our world today are complex, messy, and full of nuance. If a source presents a complex subject in a way that appears simple or black and white, consider whether major parts of the story are or could be missing. To become a savvy consumer of online media, practice taking a measured approach and work to understand all sides of an issue before drawing a conclusion.