Do you think most people are fooled by fake news?

[Paco Dennis]

It is everywhere now. Images, memes, pictures, and articles all are being fabricated to fit some kind of propaganda. I have to check several sources when I see or hear something new. About half the time it is some exaggerate stuff that is blown out of proportion. I don't quite know how I feel about this. I feel like I am being manipulated, which I don't like. I feel a little vulnerable. I can be fooled. I don't want to be. But it has happened in the past, with much harder things to believe. This is almost everything. From products to definition of words.

I am also a little curious, and interested in what is being produced. What is the story behind this fictional thing? Why was it made? Is it friendly or is it meant to screw with me? Maybe I am fairly alone in feeling this way, which I do understand where my interest comes from, but maybe others are getting this same feeling from the media/s we interact with.?

 

[Don M.]

I flip through the daily news on multiple TV sites, and the internet. Most of the time, there is little difference in the details being reported. I suspect that those being impacted with "false news" are those who rely on Facebook and Twitter, etc. With the increase of AI, people need to be careful about what they consider as being the "truth".

 

[dilettante]

Is it a new thing? Really though?

It just feels more prevalent, more slickly done, to combat the availability of man in the street reporting, actual video of events, and independent news. A combination of technology and high stakes motivations during times of rapid change now that the wool is being pulled back from so many eyes.

 

[Pepper]

The average IQ in the United States is 98

 

[Murrmurr]

I flip through the daily news on multiple TV sites, and the internet. Most of the time, there is little difference in the details being reported.

Because they basically copy/paste the details from an initial report. That isn't really a problem except that most news sources don't bother to verify the details before they publish them. A lot of them don't even check the reliability of the original source.

 

[Paco Dennis]

It really isn't new like @dilettante suggests. It is much slicker. Undetectable.?

 

[dilettante]

Because they basically copy/paste the details from an initial report. That isn't really a problem except that most news sources don't bother to verify the details before they publish them. A lot of them don't even check the reliability of the original source.

There are also polarized "news camps" across the networks.

People have posted mashup videos that show several "news outlets" parroting exactly the same line nearly word for word after they've been issued marching orders and scripts.

 

[Lara]

If you think our country is in good shape..."Here's Your Sign"

 

[PeppermintPatty]

I wouldn’t know the difference.
I’m as gullible as they come.
I don’t think it has to do with intelligence but I could be wrong.

 

[Paco Dennis]

I go to the oracle of Delphi to ask this pressing question of our civilization at a pivotal time in history...Copilot

what can we do to find what is fake and what is not?


Copilot
Usingthe web
Certainly! Here are some practical tips to help you spot fake news and navigate the digital landscape more effectively:

1. Consider the Source:
   • Investigate the credibility of the website or platform where you found the information. Reliable sources have a track record of accuracy and transparency1.
   • Be cautious of sites with suspicious URLs or those designed to mimic legitimate news organizations.
2. Look Beyond the Headline:
   • Headlines can be sensational or misleading. Read the full article to understand the context and verify the claims2.
   • Fact-checking services like Snopes, FactCheck.org, and PolitiFact can help you verify information.
3. Check for Consistency:
   • Cross-reference the story by searching for it on other reputable news sites. If it’s widely reported, it’s more likely to be accurate3.
   • Be wary if the same story appears only on obscure or biased platforms.
4. Examine the Authorship:
   • Investigate the author’s credentials. Are they an expert in the field? Look for their background and affiliations2.
   • Be cautious if the author is anonymous or lacks verifiable information.
5. Check Dates and Timeliness:
   • Verify when the article was published. Outdated information can mislead readers1.
   • Some fake news resurfaces periodically, so check for recent updates.
6. Use Critical Thinking:
   • Consider whether the story aligns with your existing knowledge and common sense. Be skeptical of extraordinary claims1.
   • Beware of emotional language or appeals that manipulate your feelings.
7. Research Quotes and Sources:
   • Investigate the sources cited within the article. Are they reliable and well-established?2
   • Be cautious if the article lacks proper citations or relies on anonymous sources.
8. Be Wary of Politicians’ Statements:
   • Politicians may spread misinformation. Verify their claims independently2.
   • Fact-checking organizations often scrutinize political statements.

Remember, critical thinking and fact-checking are your best tools against fake news. Stay curious, verify information, and share responsibly!

Learn more
1factcheck.org2us.norton.com3bbc.co.uk4msn.com5english.newstracklive.com6digitaljournal.com+2 more

 

[Paco Dennis]

If you think our country is in good shape..."Here's Your Sign"

Is the "Sign" the :smiley face:? Inquiring minds want to know...

 

[Lara]

No, it's a sticker that goes on one's forehead when they "don't get it".
Jeff Foxworthy, a comedian, used it alot in his comedy routines just for laughs.

 

[Jules]

It’s easy to be tricked and even easier with fake news, especially with AI thrown into the mix. I tend to be cynical. If you’ve ever been very close to a story and know the facts, it’s shocking how distorted the news presents it; they are more interested in writing a catchy story. With clickbait, it’s worse.

Many people don’t read the news and only listen to what Bill or Mary or whomever said. You’re getting an even more garbled version of the story.

 

[Paco Dennis]

Now I just got this in my inbox...

Paste a link to sing any song
Yahoo/Inbox

• 
  
  
  Rohan from ControllaVoice
  From:rohan@controlla.xyz
  To:frankramos1952@yahoo.com
• 
  

• Paste a link for one-click AI covers​

  Our new automated AI cover feature lets you paste links to your favorite songs from Google Drive, Youtube, Spotify, or even Suno to automatically generate fully mixed AI covers in your voice. Sing your favorite songs quicker than ever in your own voice or with our new Royalty Free Voices. Go to the "Swap Voice" page or Click here to try it out! ​

 

[Knight]

Maybe it's my age but if the "news" doesn't negatively impact me in some way I just skim over it for general interest. I don't remember when the last time something did, that I took the time to research how it would really affect me.

 

[ProTruckDriver]

If you think our country is in good shape..."Here's Your Sign"

Our country is in bad shape. There is no news anymore, no more looking into the facts. Newscast leaning left or right, it doesn't make a difference anymore, they report their news on their opinion. Look at the rating of all the newscast companies, all going down hill just like our country is right now.

 

[CallMeKate]

It’s easy to be tricked and even easier with fake news, especially with AI thrown into the mix.

AI is absolutely definitely part of the problem. Fake news alone is bad enough, but then with AI being brought in to fake pictures to match with the fake news, it's ridiculous. AI can be (and has been proven to be) slanted/biased just like everything else. I generally assume something is NOT true until I dig deeper. Kind of sad, and it wasn't like that years ago, but I need to be fully informed before making my mind up about much of anything I see online.

 

[MarkinPhx]

Just my opinion but what you wrote has been around since the printing press was invented (and probably before with town squires). It's just easier now because everything is instantaneous . At the same time, it's also easier for us to fact check things now as opposed to the past when we were more willing to accept what we read in the newspaper or magazines as fact (there's that word again).

One thing to counter my argument though is that there was a time that the news divisions for the three major networks were never considered a profit center for the networks. The 3 major networks were more concerned with the prestige that the news departments brought to the networks. At the same time though, people were buying The National Enquire and reading that content and believing everything they were reading .

Why is it done ? Again, just my opinion but it all goes back to money.

 

[Lara]

China and the rest of the "axis of evil" have been to blame for a very long time to dumb down America. And now, or rather recent years, they are seizing the opportunity of open borders to get more up close and personal to really strike while the iron is hot. Especially the young people in schools, universities, and social media. And lets not forget the drugs pouring in

 

[Trade]

The average IQ in the United States is 98

 

[fuzzybuddy]

The thing about counterfeit money is that it has to pass for the real bills. And the same with fake news. In our "World News" section, you can probably guess who watches Fox News, and those, who watch CNN. All you have to do is come up with some half baked story, which appeals the group most likely to buy it. Their biases reinforce the questionable truth.

 

[Brookswood]

The average IQ in the United States is 98

And half the people are below that.

 

[Brookswood]

Fake news doesn’t bother me as much as slanted news. And what I call non-news news. It’s amazing how easily the news media is manipulated into reporting it. Or are they skipping important information on purpose? I don’t know. But, I really doubt most of us really care about what some stripper does with her life and whom she does it with. I don’t.

Slanted news is all over the place. I could give examples, but sadly, they are mostly all political (both sides).

 

[Mr. Ed]

if it is in the media, it is obviously true.

 

[Jules]

From Kim Komanodo‘s Tech Newsletter today.

“Heads-up, news hounds: Gone are the days of Googling a news story and picking your preferred news outlet to read it. Google’s AI will now read all news stories for you and give you one version it creates, complete with its own biases. Yup, Google’s AI once told me it couldn’t provide me with a Bible verse I’d requested because it was “controversial and against its policies.””

Wow, that’s scary.