Lacson: Don't take the bait: How to have a discerning mind against fake news

IN MY previous column, I have shared that circulating fake news online is punishable by law. However, even if we have laws that mandate punishments for violators, it will also be a good thing if people who use social media apps will be more discerning and do not subscribe to unreliable information shared on the internet. As the cliché goes, if now one wants to be victimized, then there will be fewer violators and offenders.

Here are some tips to help you avoid fake news:

1. Always check the source.

As much as possible, subscribe only to verified pages by Facebook (just look for the blue checkmark beside the account name). In this way, you can ascertain that the information that you read or even repost or share is verified to be true and correct. Also, if you see a reposted social media card or news, you may always check the page where it originated from. If you cannot see it posted on that page, it means that this may be fake news.

2. Check the headline.

Factcheck.org suggests going beyond the headline and if it is provocative enough to have drawn too much attention, then you must "read a little further before you decide to pass along the shocking information." Culprits tend to share exaggerated news to capture as much attention as possible, but this is where our discerning minds can draw the line.

3. Check the date of the post or information.

Since we are suckers for holidays and non-working days, I remember one incident when someone posted a "No Work" social media post without checking that the said social media card was originally shared a previous year. The more recent the date it, the more reliable the information becomes as we know that news tends to be updated every now and then.

4. Be more critical.

Sharing credible information online even through our personal social media accounts is included in our social responsibility and our desired behavior as we share the social space with millions of users online. Let us not be arbiters of truth and verified information. Being social media users, it is also our duty to be more critical and be more discriminating with the information being shared online. If you are not sure about the veracity of the post, then do not repost or share it anymore.

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