Here are some signs that you are reading fake news
- The news site uses ALL CAPS or obviously photoshopped pictures
- Pop-ups and banner ads appear when you get to the webpage
- The domain has additional characters like ".co" attached to a trusted sources' URL (eg. bbc.com.co would be a fake site trying to pass as the BBC)
- The story offer links and that lead to unreliable content or does not provide links or references at all
Take these extra steps to evaluate the source
- If you are reading from an unknown site, read the "About" page. Google the site with the work "fake" to see if anything comes up
- If you find an unlikely story, search for it in a reputable website to see if they are reporting about it
- Check the date to make sure it is current (especially if you find the story on social media)
- Find out where the image is from using a reverse image search like TinEye
Avoid further spreading misinformation
- Read more than just the headline. Sometimes the headline does not clearly reflect the content of the article.
- Don't share a news story if you are not sure it's true!
--adapted from onthemedia.org
library@ecuad.ca 
604-844-3840