Facebook launches educational guide to help users spot fake news

In a move towards further battling fake news online, Facebook has rolled out a new tool that helps its users determine and ultimately avoid hoax content in the long run.

Starting this week, users will see an advisory on top of their news feed, which contains an educational article on how to spot false news. The effort is in consultation with First Draft, a non-profit firm dedicated to improving skills and standards in the reporting and sharing of information online.

Upon clicking the message, users will see tips on determining false content, like checking the URL, analyzing over-sensational news headlines, as well as identifying suspicious sources.

The tips listed by the company are as follows:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Watch for unusual formatting. Many false news sites have misspellings or awkward layouts. Read carefully if you see these signs.
5. 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.
6. Inspect the dates. False news stories may contain timelines that make no sense, or event dates that have been altered.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Some stories are intentionally false. Think critically about the stories you read, and only share news that you know to be credible.

The new tool will be available in 14 countries including Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, Burma, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, United States, and Canada. It will appear as an alert over the next few days to Facebook's users.

"We know people want to see accurate information on Facebook – and so do we," Facebook Vice President of News Feed Adam Mosseri writes. "False news and hoaxes are harmful to our community and make the world less informed. All of us have a responsibility to curb the spread of false news."

Back in March, the social media company rolled out a third-party tool that alerts users if they are attempting to share false news. Those flagged as such will be marked as "disputed" together with the websites that have disproved the content.

Source: FB Newsroom via TechCrunch