How to recognize fakes in the news and on the Internet

1. Do not trust anyone

Take it for granted that the information is too much. So much that divide it into false and true is impossible. Fakes come with the purpose to deceive anyone, to confuse, to hide the real data or just for fun.

Even sources that do not want to cheat, can be based on fake information, because misinformation leaked to the news on the respected channels or coming from competent persons. Roughly speaking, some not lie because they want to deceive, but because they themselves deceived.

Verification of the facts are the responsibility of the journalist in a serious publication, but all wrong. And on the Internet, where they write and deliver information to all, and not only professionals who have a job description established fact-cheking such defrauded speakers - car.

What to do? Nothing is taken for granted immediately and unconditionally, to doubt everything. Position too paranoid, but this is the first rule of hygiene information.

2. Look at the source

All posts and articles that do not specify an author, - increased risk of fakes. Any source must be credible and have a history. At a minimum, it should be easy to contact the editors or the author. If a site you do not find anything, check it through any service WHOIS. Sverhmolodoy resource without contacts and information about who is doing it, does not cause any trust.

If the reference is to another resource (Agency reported, printed media, the portal published), but leads it is not on a specific article or writing, and the entire resource as a whole, then it is most likely false information.

If the source - some British and European scientists untitled research or reference to the publication, this could easily be a fake.

If the source is littered with reports of how the blind dog saved the family from a mad plates and headers are built on the principle of "Shock! Sensation! This could not imagine the whole world! "- this is fake. Even if some of them will fall and truthful information, it is not worth wasting time on its search. News aggregators - unreliable sources there that just do not get.

All resources that are clearly occupied and promote a specific position, - increased risk of fakes or biased interpretations. If the news presses on emotion, if it is expressed very clear position of the author, it is not news - it is the opinion, therefore, the information can be distorted.

3. Peer at the picture

distinguish feykovye photo from this can not all professionals, if done skillfully fake. As a rule, the "hot" news photo search and make fast, so there are inevitable blunders.

Pay attention to what looks like a photo, whether there is it exactly the same areas (where someone stamped image or paint over parts), there are no objects that differ in terms of sharpness and color.

The most simple way to check - a Google search for pictures or use extensions. Sometimes the frames of which was made a fake, is on the first search page (if the news with a fake picture has not had time to disperse widely).

Worse, when the photo is taken not to photostock, but has no relation to reality. Look for more news on this topic, see if there are frames from a different angle. If all replicate a single image, it is a reason to suspect cheating (unless it is a super-frames lone astronaut).

If you do not leave a doubt, run through the photo service Fotoforensics. It identifies coding errors, and if the picture has changed many times, shows what specific places. This, of course, is not an indication of forgery, but only information for consideration, but it will not be superfluous.

4. Watch the video and read the full comments

Check the video is more complicated than an image or a text, because as long as there are no such services, which will find a record. In any case, if the video is inserted from YouTube, see the movie there.

Some phishing web video exposed by the date when they were filled, and visitors often leave comments, which indicate an error. For example, Facebook users have noticed that the stream of orbit - fake.

When watching a video, pay attention to the details: inscriptions, clothing, people, weather. If, for example, say that the entry was made in Italy, and all the inscriptions in French, it is obvious blunder. Difficult when talking about an event that happened on a clear day, and in the frame of the rain. But even this can be checked at least according to eyewitnesses.

5. Ask eyewitnesses

So check every bit of news is impossible, you just do not have time. But if the information is important, try to contact with eyewitnesses or those who are close by. How to find? In any social network by linking to the site, forums, immediately in the comments under the article or video.

6. Learn authors

Remember the second paragraph? We have news writer at the source should be contacts for communication. In case the information you really need, and you doubt its veracity, contact the author. The creators of fakes punctured a simple question, and do not seek to communicate.

Of course, not all authors are available and generally respond to emails, messages and phone calls, but it is one of the methods.

IN social networksEspecially if you want to raise money for anything (healing, salvation, good work), all the more important to meet the authors and ask a lot of questions.

7. Check the quotes of great people

Beauty in fakie insert citations, which often are born once in the head feykraytera. there are special Services to keep track of citations. The book "100 great thoughts" in this list are not included, because they are mistakes. Try to find a quote in "Wikiquote"Or check it in list false sayings.

Check it is necessary to not only the words spoken a century ago. Any interview can misquote, especially in translation. So do not be lazy to find a statement of a public person is entirely or at least look into Twitter - says the man is or not.

Always look whether there is a witness statement or public person an indication of the event. For example, the phrase: "It's terrible, the responsible will be punished", - is applicable in general to all the state of emergency, for which you can assign responsibility. So to insert a comment to any news easy. But if the speaker will say, "What happened to the first of January in Moscow - it's awful. Head Ivanov, Petrov and performer will be punished ", - it is specifics.

8. Check the news from the experts

The Internet is not only fake, but also people who expose them.

For example, here a list of sites with fake news, here watching the news in the world, here Russian browsing.

9. Learn

The more people know, the harder it is to deceive. For example, tell a story about what scientists have discovered a cure for all cancers at once, or how to learn to do without salt GMOs will not succeed.

The strongest filter - your brain, so develop it.