Fake news is just a social media term for telling lies. Let’s face it – those who create or spread fake news are liars and I believe the scripture is quite clear about where they will end up when God judges the earth.
It makes moral and logical sense for one to simply verify whether an information is true before spreading it. There are three simple questions you must ask when fact-checking an information:
- Who or what is the source of this information?
- What is their pedigree? Can they be trusted? Are they an authority on this subject?
- What evidence did they provide as the source of their information; do I trust that evidence?
These three simple rules are sufficient for a start. Social Media has made it easy for any and everybody to pronounce themselves freelance journalists. But we must be careful and make sure we check for facts before we share any juicy news that lands on our phone.
Thanks to Deolu Akinyemi for contributing these insightful images.
