Sick of Fake News? Here’s how to Spot it…

Lately there has been an outbreak of false news reports online, especially on social media. And it seems some people might need a hand in identifying what is real and what is fake.

So, how do you spot fake news?

-- Be extra sceptical of those hard-to-believe headlines

Be aware of false news headlines, the most common sign is that they are often written in all caps with too many exclamation marks. If the headline sounds way too good to be true, then it usually is.

-- Investigate before you click

Make sure the story is written by a source that you know and trust. Investigate by checking the “About Us” section to learn more.

-- Check the grammar and spelling

Always read carefully. If you spot words that are misspelled, awkward layouts and grammar that doesn’t make any sense then it’s often fake news.

-- First look at the URL

Look carefully at the URL of the website, if the address is slightly different from the original website, then be wary, it is probably a fake news site.

-- Photos are misleading

Does the image for the article seem too good to be true? Fake news images are usually manipulated or taken out of context.

Don’t spread the fake news – use these 5 tips to spot what is real and what is not!

The Computer Guyz offer reliable IT services, support and sales in Cape Town as well as Pretoria. Give us a call on 021 110 0422 or email contact@tcgcape.co.za