Fact or Fable: Your Guide to Fighting Misinformation

Abstract

Nobody wants to believe false information and share it with others. Still, at some point, almost everyone will consider some fake news reports to be true, without even realizing it. This may happen because the information matches their world view but also because news producers use clever tricks to spread misinformation. In this article, we provide you with the tools to understand what misinformation is, why you may fall for it, and how to fight it. Given the ease with which fake news spreads on social media, it is important to know what you can do to resist its power.