On Thursday morning, most social media users woke up to a supposed "government announcement” ordering a shutdown of literally everything, with the exception of pharmacies, hospitals, and banks.
To a keen eye, figuring out that this alarmist announcement was nothing but ‘Fake News’ was easy.
Unfortunately, at a time like this, where the public is anxious for the next update, the likelihood of believing this piece of untruth; is high.
Today, we look at ‘Fake News’ and how to spot it.
But first, what is ‘Fake News’?
On its website, mindtools.com puts ‘Fake News’ into two categories. First, ‘Fake News’ can be a story that is completely untrue. These are deliberately invented stories designed to make people believe something false.
Then there are stories that have some truth but aren't 100 percent accurate.
For example, one could say that "Rwanda has reported a number of coronavirus patients and to minimise contamination, the government is spraying all homes in Kigali City”. While the former is true, the latter is completely false.
Knowing the difference between the two categories is key. So what next?
1. Verify with trusted sources
The moment you receive a message, restrain yourself from sharing it without verifying the information. If the message has been ‘Forwarded’ on WhatsApp more than five times, it's indicated with a double arrow icon.
Remember that technology is now providing editing tools that one can use to edit photos, audio recordings, and videos to mislead you.
If you're not sure who wrote the original message, double-check the facts. For instance, you can check out trusted news sources and see if the story is being reported.
However, mindtools.com reminds us that there is need to be careful since people who spread fake news and "alternative facts" sometimes create web pages, newspaper mock-ups, or "doctored" images that look official, but aren't.
2. How viral is it?
The mistake that most people make is believing that just because a message has been shared many times, it’s true. Nothing travels faster than a lie, and often, this is because of how sensational it is.
If you receive something that you prove is fake, ask the sender to stop sharing with you unverified information and if he/she or a group does not stop, report them.
3. Be keen on details
The moment you receive or read a message, look out for small details which in actual sense are big. For instance, the fake Ministry of Health announcement mentioned at the beginning of this story has many spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors right from the top to the bottom.
4. Examine the evidence
For those who have not written a news story before, here is something that can help you tell the difference between the real and the fake. A credible news story is packed with facts that include quotes from experts, official statistic and background information.
If these are missing or the source’s name is not familiar, it is important that you verify it. A quick search on the internet can give you a glimpse into what kind of information you are consuming.
5. Check the domain/URL
The one thing that always gives away ‘Fake News’ is the site but unfortunately, most people are more interested in being the first to share without looking at the basics. For instance, websites with endings like .com.co should give you a reason for pause.
For example, newtimes.co.rw is a legitimate news source but newstime.co.rw despite its similar appearance is not genuine.
6. Use common sense
Finally, use your common sense. If a story sounds unbelievable, it probably is. Remember, just because a story sounds "right" and true, doesn't mean that it is.
For example, it's unlikely that your telecommunication company is giving a free phone to each of their clients.
Cross-checking is key.