10 tips on how to spot fake news from Facebook

This is an announcement from Facebook.

We’re against false news on Facebook – it misleads people and makes the world less informed. People don’t want to see false news on Facebook, and neither do we. It’s harmful to our community and our industry. 

This isn’t a new problem. Each new technology requires new and creative solutions. It’s up to all of us – in technology, media, academia – to fight it. We, at Facebook, are working to help people make more informed decisions when they encounter false news. (Try this QUIZ: Can you tell fake news from real news?)

Today, as part of our ongoing efforts to help people make more informed decisions, we’re rolling out an educational tool to help people spot false news. We’re featuring this tool at the top of News Feed for a few days to people on Facebook in 14 countries, including Indonesia, Myanmar, South Korea, Taiwan and The Philippines.

When people click on this educational tool at the top of their News Feed, they will see more information and resources in the Facebook Help Center, including tips on how to spot false news, such as checking the URL of the site, investigating the source and looking for other reports on the topic. 

These tips were developed in partnership with First Draft, a non-profit dedicated to improving skills and standards in the reporting and sharing of information online. Here they are: 

We want to stop the spread of false news on Facebook. Learn more about the work we’re doing. As we work to limit the spread, here are some tips on what to look out for: 

• Be skeptical of headlines. False news stories often have catchy headlines in all caps with exclamation points. If shocking claims in the headline sound unbelievable, they probably are. 
• Look closely at the URL. A phony or look-alike URL may be a warning sign of false news. Many false news sites mimic authentic news sources by making small changes to the URL. You can go to the site and compare the URL to established sources.  
• Investigate the source. Ensure that the story is written by a source that you trust with a reputation for accuracy. If the story comes from an unfamiliar organization, check their “About” section to learn more. 
• Watch for unusual formatting. Many false news sites have misspellings or awkward layouts. Read carefully if you see these signs.
• Consider the photos. False news stories often contain manipulated images or videos. Sometimes the photo may be authentic, but taken out of context. You can search for the photo or image to verify where it came from.
• Inspect the dates. False news stories may contain timelines that make no sense, or event dates that have been altered.
• Check the evidence. Check the author’s sources to confirm that they are accurate. Lack of evidence or reliance on unnamed experts may indicate a false news story.
• Look at other reports. If no other news source is reporting the same story, it may indicate that the story is false. If the story is reported by multiple sources you trust, it’s more likely to be true.
• Is the story a joke? Sometimes false news stories can be hard to distinguish from humor or satire. Check whether the source is known for parody, and whether the story’s details and tone suggest it may be just for fun.
• Some stories are intentionally false. Think critically about the stories you read, and only share news that you know to be credible. 

(Editor’s Note: Rappler is one of the Philippine news groups which joined the First Draft Partners Network.)