According to sources, fake news is information that is untrue but presented to the public in a way that resembles content from mainstream media outlets in order to trick and manipulate perspectives on real events, facts, and quotes. Fake news is a combination of misinformation (incorrect information) and disinformation (incorrect information meant to “purposely mislead people”). It does not provide the public with valid, accurate, or bias-free facts.
For example, in my own life I have been the victim to clickbait within search engines like Google and Yahoo, as well as on Youtube. At times content-creators will promote obscure, unbelievable concepts in order to receive likes or views on certain videos or articles. Not to mention anything can be manipulated online now, with easy access to editing software.
The spread of fake news can be combated in many ways. Readers can review the credibility of the sources putting out information, they can check to see who the author of the piece is and if they are a reliable source as well. Another way that we can spot fake news is by noticing our own biases and what we believe to be true as opposed to what truly happened.
We as a society need to start thinking more for ourselves instead of blindly following what other people say about the world around us.