Detecting Fake News is hard
Regardless of how many people you throw at this, combating fake news is hard. Especially fake news that might have some pretty good funding behind it.
When FB first announced their attempt, I was actually surprised. Fake News has been around at least since the early 1900s - pre WW I when the Brit government started giving fake news stories to various newspapers decrying the Germans. TBH, it's probably been around for as long as people have been able to talk to each other.
So, I just try to live be a few simple rules when reading the news:
- If it's in the news then someone likely paid for it to be there. Unless it's a major event happening right now.
- Is the piece itself obviously slanted or is it "in print" to generate certain emotions in order to support other related articles?
- Does the piece have verifiable facts?
- Does it even sound true based on the other things I know?
As much as I don't like FB I give them Kuddos for trying where far older institutions have failed miserably.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
