Evaluating Websites: How To Identify Fake And Real News Sources

These days fake news has become one of the biggest issues in our society today, especially since this global pandemic has started. Now it seems that news if pouring in from all types of sources and unfortunately most of this news is fake or incorrect. People are spreading false news everywhere and this is making matters worse as the whole world has been turned upside down due to covid19. We need to start identifying fake news sources and report these websites, forums or platforms.

There is mass hysteria due to the pandemic and these news sources are creating havoc, especially news websites. There are currently so many platforms that are posting fake news or they are not fact-checking before posting content. Most people will believe anything they read online and this just shows how dangerous fake news really is. This is exactly why we have articulated a list of tips that will help everyone identify fake and legit news sources. Read on to find out more.

Judge the Websites Design Layout

Consider this a rule of thumb; if you ever read the news on websites with poor design layouts or just have a poor design aesthetic then consider running a quick Google check on the news. Many people have recently created low-quality websites and post fake news or post clickbait content. Lower quality websites have a higher probability of posting fake news or not having any solid background at all.

Read Through All of the Content

Every website has its own type of content that they post, read through all of their content including previous posts to get a general idea of the theme of their content. Just by doing this, you will easily see if there is a pattern in their content and if they are trying to push some sort of agenda. Legit websites will post all types of news and will also include posts that can actually help the community. Take Community White Paper as the perfect example, this website was founded with the goal to sustain community security programs and educate people about the concerns in their community.

Read the About Section

This may come as a surprise to you but many news websites that post fake content actually describe their platform under the category of entertainment in their about section.  This helps safeguard their rights in case someone files a lawsuit against them. So read their about section and see how they describe their platform, this will easily help you identify a legit platform from a fake one.

Check To See If Other Websites Have Posted the Same Story

If you read the news on some website but can’t find the same content on any other website then this is a clear red flag that this website might not be legit. Fake news sources are always limited and legit websites will never post content without fact-checking the details. Just checks if other news websites have the same story if they don’t then please do not trust that source again.

Consider the facts of the story

Fake news platforms will always post vague information; they will lack witnesses, footage or even proper quotes. These fake sources will simply post news that will drive traffic to their website and all of the facts of the story will either not be clear or just not make proper sense at all.

As mentioned before, we are facing difficult times and fake news is just adding to all of the troubles our society is facing today. Rest assured, if you consider our tips you can easily spot a legit website such as White Paper Community Watch or Local News Center.