What Really Happens When You Report Fake News On Social Media
Fake news is nothing, well, new — there’s a Catalonia pamphlet from 1657 that tells of a discovery of a terrible monster that consisted of “goat’s legs, a human body, seven arms and seven hands.” Eew. No one wants to see that.
Fake news as a term soared during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, according to Gale Academic OneFile. The phrase was used so often that the Collins Dictionary dubbed it the word of the year in 2017. While “fake news” means different things to various people, its basic definition is news that is fabricated. It “is an invention — a lie created out of nothing — that takes the appearance of real news with the aim of deceiving people,” said #30 Seconds.
Such disinformation can have a major impact on the world. When the public can’t attain reliable facts, their ability to make informed decisions flounders. Facebook recently decided to ban content that “denies or distorts the Holocaust” — after previously saying such opinions deserved free speech — because a survey showed that a quarter of its participants, Americans aged 18-39, believed that the genocide of Jewish people and others was fake or exaggerated. That’s right, 25 percent did not acknowledge the Holocaust’s terrible death toll and cruelty.
Americans get their news from social media
While social media is still a forum for showing off your freshly baked apple pie and funny photos of yourself with rabbit ears, it is also a news distribution system, with 62 percent of American adults using it as their primary news source, said a Pew Research Center survey. Despite that, social media policy on fake news varies from platform to platform. Often these are “confusing, unclear, or contradictory,” according to Bill Fitzgerald, a privacy and technology researcher in Consumer Reports‘ Digital Lab.
Consumer Reports also points out that’s why it is difficult to know the expectations for different social media. It’s hard to make “companies enforce their rules fairly when you can’t even figure out what those rules are supposed to be.” According to the publication, much of social media — including Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest, Reddit, Snapchat, WhatsApp and TikTok — allow some false information. More often, such platforms ban certain topics of fake news.
Sharing fake news consequences
What happens to you when you share fake news on social media? It all depends on the type of information you share and which platform you use. Facebook and Twitter label posts with warnings, and both platforms might make it harder to access such posts in search results and news feeds. Some platforms will straight-out delete the offending post if it determines it is false information.
The truth is, disseminating fake news currently has little consequence for whoever does the posting. As for society, democracy, the integrity of information … that’s another matter. The law currently leaves fake news publishers some leeway, since there are neither laws nor “precedents that clearly define the concept,” according to Rasmussen College‘s blog. One possible, but doubtful, punishment would be if someone filed a civil suit for defamation on the basis of the social media post. If they could prove serious negative results of the post, says the Law Firms web site, there could be a high payout.
Some social media platforms such as Reddit and Twitter have created tougher terms of services to stop propaganda, hate speech and fake news, and might suspend accounts that violate those terms.
Reporting fake news doesn't always work
Most platforms have a way you can report fake news on their site by clicking on a “report” icon. For instance, if you flag an item on Instagram, its fact-checkers will confirm the information and if they find the post is false, it will be hidden from the Explore and hashtag pages. Unfortunately, though, it still might appear in the feed section, so people who follow the page will still see it. Even so, there’s no guarantee that the information will reach those fact-checkers. An article in Mashable said that Instagram uses a number of factors to determine if information needs confirmation.
Facebook started checking facts in 2016 and sends suspect information to PolitiFact and Factcheck.org, which will review only those submissions the organizations think are “important or impactful to evaluate,” said WIRED.
So while reporting misinformation is important, there is no full system in place to prevent it from appearing on social media. Perhaps in the future, social media will find better ways to prevent misinformation. “Fake news is no longer a problem that platforms can buy under PR speech and abstract commitments,” said Theodore Weng in an article on Law Technology Today. “… The time to take a firm stance against the harm fake news poses to society is now.”
51 thoughts on “What Really Happens When You Report Fake News On Social Media”
Leave a Reply
The Truth About Paul Revere's Spy Ring
What You Didn't Know About The Vikings' Unique Compass
The Oldest Basilica Of The Western World
Duran Duran Could've Worked With Michael Jackson. Here's What Happened
The Big Lie About George Washington You Learned In History Class
The Truth About The Most Successful Pirate In History
This Is The Last Item Frank Fritz Picked On American Pickers
The Exotic Pets Nicolas Cage Has Owned Might Surprise You
The Truth About The Foo Fighters' New Disco Album
Son Of Sam: The Truth About David Berkowitz's Adoptive Parents
Heya i am for the primary time here. I came across this board and I to find
It really useful & it helped me out a lot.
I am hoping to offer something back and aid others such as you aided me.
Visit my page … http://ivistroy.ru/
May I just say what a relief to uncover a person that truly understands what they’re talking about on the internet.
You definitely know how to bring a problem
to light and make it important. A lot more people ought to
read this and understand this side of the story. I was surprised that you aren’t more
popular since you definitely have the gift.
Feel free to visit my homepage :: https://vyvod-iz-zapoya-minsk.ru/
What’s Going down i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this
I’ve discovered It positively helpful and it has helped
me out loads. I’m hoping to give a contribution & aid other customers like its aided me.
Good job.
my blog post http://vopros-remonta-info.ru/
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic
to be actually something that I think I would never understand.
It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your
next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
Also visit my web-site: https://vyvod-iz-zapoya-minsk.online/
Everyone loves it whenever people get together and share ideas.
Great site, continue the good work!
Here is my blog post – http://tut-proremont.ru/
That is really interesting, You’re an overly skilled blogger.
I’ve joined your rss feed and stay up for searching for extra of your great
post. Additionally, I’ve shared your site in my social networks
My web page – http://otremontirowal.ru/
Appreciate this post. Let me try it out.
Stop by my webpage; http://smartremstr.ru/
Incredible points. Great arguments. Keep up the great work.
Also visit my web page :: http://sad-ogorod-info.ru/
Hi! I know this is kinda off topic nevertheless I’d figured I’d ask.
Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing a blog post
or vice-versa? My website covers a lot of the same topics as yours and I believe we could greatly benefit from each other.
If you’re interested feel free to shoot me an e-mail.
I look forward to hearing from you! Excellent blog by the way!
Here is my homepage … хранение бытовой техники на складе
My brother recommended I might like this website. He was entirely right.
This post actually made my day. You can not imagine simply how much time I had spent
for this info! Thanks!
Feel free to surf to my site: http://vgryadkah.ru/
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and
wished to mention that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your weblog posts.
In any case I’ll be subscribing for your rss feed and I hope you write once more soon!
my site сведение тату минск
If you are going for finest contents like I do, just visit this web site everyday for the reason that it
gives feature contents, thanks
Feel free to surf to my site … http://pro-sadovnik.ru/
Greetings I am so excited I found your weblog, I really found you by accident, while I was looking on Bing
for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a
remarkable post and a all round thrilling blog (I also
love the theme/design), I don’t have time to go through
it all at the moment but I have saved it and also added in your RSS
feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more,
Please do keep up the superb job.
Also visit my web-site – http://ruda4nik.ru/
Hi, the whole thing is going fine here and ofcourse every
one is sharing data, that’s in fact fine, keep
up writing.
Also visit my blog post: удалить тату минск
I simply couldn’t go away your site prior to suggesting that I
really loved the usual information a person supply to your guests?
Is going to be again steadily in order to investigate cross-check new posts
Feel free to visit my page … http://dachnik-info.ru/
Excellent goods from you, man. I have consider your stuff
prior to and you are just too wonderful. I actually like what you have obtained right here, certainly like what you’re stating and the
way in which wherein you are saying it. You make it enjoyable and you still take care of to stay it wise.
I can not wait to learn far more from you. This is actually a great site.
Feel free to visit my web-site … сведение тату минск
Howdy! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you
using for this website? I’m getting fed up of WordPress because
I’ve had problems with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another
platform. I would be awesome if you could
point me in the direction of a good platform.
my site … Хранение вещей в Минске
What a stuff of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious experience about unpredicted emotions.
my homepage – Хранение вещей Минск
Hi I am so glad I found your webpage, I really found you by error, while I was browsing on Bing for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a remarkable post and a all round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I dont have time to browse it all at the minute but I have saved it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the superb b.
What’s up, yeah this piece of writing is actually good and I have learned lot of things from it concerning blogging. thanks.
Hi to every body, it’s my first visit of this blog; this weblog includes awesome and truly fine stuff for readers.
This article will help the internet viewers for building up new webpage or even a blog from start to end.
Hi, I do believe this is an excellent web site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will come back once again since I book marked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to help other people.
We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your web site provided us with useful information to work on. You have performed an impressive process and our whole group might be grateful to you.
I used to be recommended this blog by way of my cousin. I am now not positive whether this submit is written via him as no one else understand such particular approximately my difficulty. You are wonderful! Thank you!
Great article! This is the type of information that are meant to be shared around the web. Disgrace on the seek engines for not positioning this post upper! Come on over and visit my site . Thank you =) nastroyke-info.ru
I like what you guys are usually up too. This type of clever work and exposure! Keep up the great works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to blogroll. mirsadovnikov.ru
Excellent post. I certainly love this website. Keep writing! glavdachnik.ru
Keep on working, great job! удаление пигментных пятен лазером
Wow, that’s what I was seeking for, what a stuff! present here at this website, thanks admin of this website. infoda4nik.ru
I do agree with all the ideas you have presented for your post. They are very convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are too brief for newbies. May just you please extend them a bit from next time? Thank you for the post. ogorodkino.ru
Wow, superb blog format! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging glance easy. The total glance of your web site is great, let alonesmartly as the content! sadovoe-tut.ru
Very soon this web site will be famous among all blogging and site-building people, due to it’s good posts hay day скачать на компьютер
You really make it seem so easy together with your presentation however I find this topic to be really something which I think I would never understand. It sort of feels too complicated and very extensive for me. I am looking forward for your next submit, I will try to get the hang of it! hay day скачать на компьютер
It’s not my first time to visit this site, i am visiting this web site dailly and get nice data from here everyday. delaremontnika.ru
Im not that much of a online reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back in the future. Cheers хранение вещей
What’s up, yup this piece of writing is truly nice and I have learned lot of things from it regarding blogging. thanks. Хранение бытовой техники на складе
What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It positively helpful and it has helped me out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution & aid other users like its helped me. Good job. просмотры в яппи
Wow, that’s what I was looking for, what a data! present here at this weblog, thanks admin of this website. накрутка просмотров яппи
I don’t know if it’s just me or if everyone else experiencing problems with your website. It appears as if some of the text within your posts are running off the screen. Can someone else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them too? This could be a problem with my browser because I’ve had this happen before. Thanks накрутка просмотров яппи
Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all people you really understand what you are talking approximately! Bookmarked. Please also visit my site =). We could have a link trade agreement among us Карта мира из дерева на стену купить в Минске
I always spent my half an hour to read this weblog’s articles daily along with a cup of coffee. Карта мира из дерева на стену купить в Минске
What a data of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious knowledge about unexpected feelings. Карта мира из дерева на стену купить в Минске
Hi, i think that i saw you visited my blog so i came to return the favor.I am trying to find things to improve my website!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!! Карта мира с подсветкой
Hi, yeah this piece of writing is really nice and I have learned lot of things from it about blogging. thanks. Карта мира из дерева на стену купить в Минске
Fantastic web site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to some pals ans also sharing in delicious. And obviously, thank you in your effort! agrosadovnik.ru
Hi there Dear, are you actually visiting this website regularly, if so after that you will absolutely take nice experience. bob tape for breast lift
Greetings! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I genuinely enjoy reading through your blog posts. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same subjects? Thanks a lot! bob tape for breast lift
Thank you for some other informative web site. Where else may I am getting that kind of info written in such a perfect approach? I have a challenge that I am simply now operating on, and I have been at the glance out for such information. купить пуговицы
Hi there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after browsing through a few of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely happy I discovered it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back regularly! Прогон сайта хрумером
I was wondering if you ever considered changing the page layout of your site? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two images. Maybe you could space it out better? тахта угловая