Why it is important to be able to identify fake news
Trusted news is important as it helps people with important decisions in their lives,
for example who to vote in a political election or what medical treatment to take when ill. If you want to avoid false information, knowing fake news looks like and how to identify it is important.
Dangers of fake news
• When people cannot tell apart genuine news from fake news, it leads to confusion and misunderstandings about important social and political issues. If many people think "you can't trust anything you read", it damages trust in reliable news sources.
• Fake news often aims to create and worsen social conflicts. When each side of an argument has their own beliefs, it leads to more division in society and can impact election results.
• Universities and colleges want students to use good information for their assignments. Students who use wrong or misleading information might get lower grades.