Fact Check: How to decipher online news and information: Examples of Fake News

Fake news can easily proliferate, particularly in times of political turbulence and instability. Take a look at the following examples of fake news:

• Putting a Viral Video Clip of Biden in Context: A 10-second clip of Joe Biden showed him delivering a quote devoid of the full context, which construed his meaning.
• Fake Coronavirus Cures: A recipe circulating on social media claimed that garlic cured coronavirus.
• False Claim That Wisconsin Counted More Votes Than Registered Voters: A social media rumor incorrectly compared the number of registered voters in 2018 to the number of votes cast in 2020.

These are two examples of satirical and fake news sites that deliver news with distorted or false information, biased viewpoints and fabricated facts:

The World News Daily Report

To confuse and add to the misleading of readers, World News Daily Report mixes some true stories with their fake ones.  Their disclaimer starts with a large headline reading "NEWS YOU CAN TRUST," however, when you scroll to the bottom of the page, it reads:

WNDR shall not be responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by website users or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this website or by any technical or human error which may occur.  WNDR assumes however all responsibility for the satirical nature of its articles and for the fictional nature of their content. All characters appearing in the articles in this website – even those based on real people –  are entirely fictional and any resemblance between them and any persons, living, dead, or undead is purely a miracle. (http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/disclaimer_/)

The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus

https://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/ 

Your help is needed to save the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus from extinction! Visit the official site to learn more about this elusive species, what you can do help, and share sitghings of this temperate rainforest cephalopods. 

It is pretty obvious that this clever and entertaining website is fake. It is not intended to be misleading, but a satirical site for a fictional animal that gained a surprise following. 

Disclaimer

These internet links are provided to you as a courtesy. Walden University, LLC. (Walden) does not own or operate and is in no way responsible for the content of the web sites to which you will be directed upon accessing the links. Walden makes no representations or warranties as to the sites’ content, does not attest to the accuracy or propriety of any information located there and does not endorse the sites or information on the sites in any way.

Are you ready to put your newfound skills to the test? These two online games were created by outside sources to test your online news consumer savviness. Do you think you can win?