“Fake News” has become a catch-all for any information an individual deems untrue. Disturbingly, it has also become a label applied to anything out-of-line with an individual’s worldview. The purpose of intentionally generated misinformation is multifaceted and can be designed to: make fun of, create humor, create distress, start a panic, change opinions, be an outright lie and worse, be a matter of life or death.

Today’s online sources leave a lot to be desired when the average individual makes any attempt at understanding exactly what fake news is and how to identify it. Articles are paired with realistic headlines, icons, and text, but the author may be completely fabricated.
Fake news is not only crafty, but it is designed to confuse and influence. The creators of fake news understand that the human brain can only try to question for a limited time and then gives up. These purveyors inundate viewers with constant chaos so that within a short time, they achieve their goals and the viewer believes everything that they see or ignores all news which effectively achieves their goal of a less informed more distrusting public.

Below are some guidelines to assist in the process of discerning the nuances and variety of misinformation types suited to different purposes.

Misleading Content

Framing the text to only include partial information to create an alternate view for an individual or entity. Often used to make a particular point without incorporating the entire story. A favorite method used against politicians or political/social topics.

Intent
A falsehood deliberately fabricated to masquerade as the truth.

Examples

The advertisement correctly states that “Casein” is the primary protein in milk but then misleads by claiming the protein is toxic.

The advertisement correctly states that “Casein” is the primary protein in milk but then misleads by claiming the protein is toxic.

Popular meme of Bernie Sanders voting yes to bail out wall street, it’s misleading because the single bill had two separate parts. 1 part to bail out the automotive industry and the other part to bail out wall street. Sanders voted yes to only bailing out the auto industry.

Popular meme of Bernie Sanders voting yes to bail out wall street, it’s misleading because the single bill had two separate parts. 1 part to bail out the automotive industry and the other part to bail out wall street. Sanders voted yes to only bailing out the auto industry.

McDonald’s burger, among others featured in a meme claiming fast food burgers look the same after you order you them 2 years later. What the meme conveniently leaves out: that not just fast food burgers but all burgers look like that when moisture is not trapped inside of the burger.

McDonald’s burger, among others featured in a meme claiming fast food burgers look the same after you order you them 2 years later. What the meme conveniently leaves out: that not just fast food burgers but all burgers look like that when moisture is not trapped inside of the burger.

Actual truth: It was the most watched cable news single candidate town hall ever …. On CNN

Actual truth: It was the most watched cable news single candidate town hall ever …. On CNN

Manipulated Content

The use of doctoring or changing videos, photos, or other imageries. Highly used in the creation of memes as well as YouTube videos. Using technology, the designers create realistic misinformation to change or alter personal viewpoints or opinions. Videos misrepresent popular or well-known figures using technologies, software, and AI to fabricate convincing deepfake representations.

Intent
Often used by those involved in activist propaganda development to disperse into mass media and alter or change public opinion.

Examples

Manipulated photo of young girl protesting the Pilipino government, photo was edited to champion President Rodrigo Duterte’s talking points.

Manipulated photo of young girl protesting the Pilipino government, photo was edited to champion President Rodrigo Duterte’s talking points.

Fake interview manipulated by CRTV with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Fake interview manipulated by CRTV with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Fake interview manipulated by CRTV with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Prince William accused of flipping the media off, when in actuality he was acknowledging the birth of his 3rd child.

Prince William accused of flipping the media off, when in actuality he was acknowledging the birth of his 3rd child.

Photo doctored to show President Trump’s parents as KKK members

Photo doctored to show President Trump’s parents as KKK members

Satire, Parody, Humor

Using humor, exaggeration, ridicule, expose, or imitation to make a particular point. Typically does not have ability to fool. Often presented realistically, but typically ends in amusement or as part of a joke. Popular on social media platforms. The sources may or may not indicate that the content isn’t real but typically include a disclaimer somewhere that defines that it is not factual. Many include a disclaimer to indicate that the information isn’t real.

Intent
The purpose is to usually add a hint of levity that is grounded in something that might be serious.

Examples

Parody Quote – Charlie’s quotes are frequently quoted on Instagram by others and himself. This is a parody of one his quotes.

Parody Quote – Charlie’s quotes are frequently quoted on Instagram by others and himself. This is a parody of one his quotes.

Satiric Meme – This meme is mocking the hypocrisy among abortion critics.

Satiric Meme – This meme is mocking the hypocrisy among abortion critics.

Satiric Meme – This meme is poking fun at republican talking points, citing the wealth tricking down to the poor.

Satiric Meme – This meme is poking fun at republican talking points, citing the wealth tricking down to the poor.

Satiric meme – this meme is sensationalizing some of Ben Shapiro’s character traits by comparing the pros of Ben and the cons of having girlfriend.

Satiric meme – this meme is sensationalizing some of Ben Shapiro’s character traits by comparing the pros of Ben and the cons of having girlfriend.

False Connection

Headlines designed to grab attention and encourage the viewer to continue to read, only to find out that the balance of the content doesn’t support or relate to the headline. Popular in social media where individuals often read just the headline before sharing. Part of the clickbait concept to get more viewers to click and open as it is also usually associated with product offerings within the content. Popular among those that use guerilla marketing tactics.

Intent
Posing as a topic of interest in a subject line to get the viewer to click and read. Headlines can range from something that is potentially true to the outrageous. The goal is financially based on clicks and reads, with content that doesn’t relate to the subject.

Examples

“China is on the brink of collapse: Art Laffer” video posted by FOX Business, made no mention of China collapsing, nor did Art Laffer say that, but rather a discussion about mainly tariffs and how the Chinese economy have been performing poorly as of 4 months ago.

“China is on the brink of collapse: Art Laffer” video posted by FOX Business, made no mention of China collapsing, nor did Art Laffer say that, but rather a discussion about mainly tariffs and how the Chinese economy have been performing poorly as of 4 months ago.

Infowars article headline reads the democrats such as Schumer, Clinton, and Obama called for a border wall. The video shows Schumer & Obama both speaking about cracking down on illegal immigration and suggesting a border fence but no mention of a wall. (Clinton’s previous position was more vague calling for a barrier)

Infowars article headline reads the democrats such as Schumer, Clinton, and Obama called for a border wall. The video shows Schumer & Obama both speaking about cracking down on illegal immigration and suggesting a border fence but no mention of a wall. (Clinton’s previous position was more vague calling for a barrier)

Infowars headlines suggests Cortez has meth mouth presumably from doing meth. Yet the video suggests that she looks like she has meth mouth and is primarily utilized to promote a new t-shirt that features Cortez as a socialist dog.

Infowars headlines suggests Cortez has meth mouth presumably from doing meth. Yet the video suggests that she looks like she has meth mouth and is primarily utilized to promote a new t-shirt that features Cortez as a socialist dog.

Infowars headline claims Howard Stern mocks dead sandy hook children. The video rather criticizes Howard Stern for multiple things, including the mocking of Alex Jones voices, some of which included a parody of Alex Jones talking about the Sandy Hook incident. Stern did not actually directly mock the Sandy Hook children as the article headline suggests.

Infowars headline claims Howard Stern mocks dead sandy hook children. The video rather criticizes Howard Stern for multiple things, including the mocking of Alex Jones voices, some of which included a parody of Alex Jones talking about the Sandy Hook incident. Stern did not actually directly mock the Sandy Hook children as the article headline suggests.

Fabricated Content

All information that is contained is entirely false. This format is designed to cause harm to individuals, entities, events, ideas, philosophies, etc.

Intent
Deliberate attempts to create made-up content for the purpose of creating negative information around topics that don’t exist. A favorite method used in trolling, which are people/bots acting as internet “trolls” to begin quarrels or fights online. The goal is to post something upsetting, distractive, and inflammatory comments and images, to get an emotional response.

Examples

Clemson QB’s quote entirely made up quote goes viral. He confirms it with the tweet on the left.

Clemson QB’s quote entirely made up quote goes viral. He confirms it with the tweet on the left.

Blatantly false meme of Alexandria Cortez claiming she introduced a bill to remove all mentioning of Robert E. Lee in public school textbooks.

Blatantly false meme of Alexandria Cortez claiming she introduced a bill to remove all mentioning of Robert E. Lee in public school textbooks.

Completely false claim that Mia Hamm died on January 15th

Completely false claim that Mia Hamm died on January 15th She is very much alive and well https://twitter.com/MiaHamm?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Ted Nugent throwing a big concert to raise money for the border wall

Ted Nugent throwing a big concert to raise money for the border wall Not any bit of the article contained anything true, entirely fabricated.

False Context

Genuine content is used as a baseline and then replaced with false context information. This content can be a kind of mix-and-match, blurring both genuine and false information, data, and text into a story. The purpose is to realign or change the viewer into falling prey to false information. This form of content is also popular with sources responsible for pseudoscience topics and products.

Intent
Spreading misinformation by using specific portions of a story and then extrapolating it into the bizarre lies.

Examples

Helen Reece published an academic review about relaxing restrictions on sex offenders and presented it to then Home Secretary Theresa May. May administrated the academic review to her department for the government to review. Helen Reece’s quotes have been falsely attributed to Theresa May.

Helen Reece published an academic review about relaxing restrictions on sex offenders and presented it to then Home Secretary Theresa May. May administrated the academic review to her department for the government to review. Helen Reece’s quotes have been falsely attributed to Theresa May.

Real photo of George Soros standing next to Lyudmyla Kozlovska, head of a Polish human rights organization. Yet the viral post below inserted false information claiming her to be Christine Blasey Ford.

Real photo of George Soros standing next to Lyudmyla Kozlovska, head of a Polish human rights organization. Yet the viral post below inserted false information claiming her to be Christine Blasey Ford.

A meme goes viral in Italy of Samuel L Jackson & Magic Johnson posing for pictures for fans while touring Italy after a day of shopping. The meme claimed they were immigrants using welfare to buy expensive items.

A meme goes viral in Italy of Samuel L Jackson & Magic Johnson posing for pictures for fans while touring Italy after a day of shopping. The meme claimed they were immigrants using welfare to buy expensive items.

Picture taken of a young boy at a Dallas protest, who was put into a cage as prop to create an image of what being detained looks like for fellow protesters to see. Reporter tweeted the photo which went viral, leading many people to believe it was an actual photo of an immigrant being kept captive by ICE.

Picture taken of a young boy at a Dallas protest, who was put into a cage as prop to create an image of what being detained looks like for fellow protesters to see. Reporter tweeted the photo which went viral, leading many people to believe it was an actual photo of an immigrant being kept captive by ICE.

Imitation/counterfeit

Social media accounts or websites positioning themselves as a well-known person, brand, product, or situation. A typical tactic of foreign entities, such as the Russians, that want to influence an opinion or have others join their groups.

Intent
Each counterfeit has a specific agenda to accomplish; from pitting American citizens against each other to reinforcing a specific belief system.

Examples

An IRA social media account designed to hurt race relations in the United States.

An IRA social media account designed to hurt race relations in the United States.

An IRA social media account intended to drive Bernie Sanders voters away from voting for Hillary Clinton in the general election. While the full quote is true, the Russian’s used the fake account serve their agenda.

An IRA social media account intended to drive Bernie Sanders voters away from voting for Hillary Clinton in the general election. While the full quote is true, the Russian’s used the fake account serve their agenda.

An IRA social media account used to manifest distaste/hate for Hillary Clinton and other democrats, as well as organize anti-democratic rallies.

An IRA social media account used to manifest distaste/hate for Hillary Clinton and other democrats, as well as organize anti-democratic rallies.

Counterfeit copies of the Washington Post were being distributed through out Washington D.C. claiming Trump has resigned from the white house.

Counterfeit copies of the Washington Post were being distributed through out Washington D.C. claiming Trump has resigned from the white house.

Imposter Content

The addition of fabricated or made up information or data to emulate or impersonate legitimate sources. Often make use of realistic-looking logos, icons, graphs, charts, and layouts to deceive the viewer into believing the information is accurate and real. These sources can include those that create conspiracy theories to attract their followers.

Intent
Acting as an arm of propaganda, biased or misleading information is used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view, while presenting the false information formatted as real news.

Examples

Sponsored Content which is designed to look like real content serves as an advertising method for brands, writing real articles that make a biased case for their brand. Deception such as “Brand voice” is used rather than sponsored content.

Sponsored Content which is designed to look like real content serves as an advertising method for brands, writing real articles that make a biased case for their brand. Deception such as “Brand voice” is used rather than sponsored content.

IRA’s posing to be a LGBT account

IRA’s posing to be a LGBT account

This statement made it’s way around social media successfully posing as Nike.

This statement made it’s way around social media successfully posing as Nike.

False opinion piece posing as opinion editor from the Philippines.

False opinion piece posing as opinion editor from the Philippines.

False Acknowledgement

Credible information, data, images, or quotes are misattributed to the wrong person/people/time/events.

Intent
Most common use is to reinforce a political or personal view.

Examples

1aFalseAcknowledgement

1aFalseAcknowledgement

1bFalseAcknowledgement

1bFalseAcknowledgement

1cFalseAcknowledgement

1cFalseAcknowledgement

The quote of below is frequently misattributed to Thomas Jefferson but in reality it was said by John Sharp Williams when he was speaking about Thomas Jefferson.

The quote of below is frequently misattributed to Thomas Jefferson but in reality it was said by John Sharp Williams when he was speaking about Thomas Jefferson.

Media Literacy Questions to Discern Fake News: