The anatomy of a viral story
It’s easy to spot a fake viral story if you know what to look for. Here are some telltale signs: the story is about a celebrity or a well-known brand, it’s highly emotional, it features an unusual or unbelievable event, or it has a shocking headline. If you see all of these signs in a story, be skeptical and do some more research before you share it.
The headline
The headline of a viral story is often what catches people’s attention and entices them to read further. A good headline will be something that is shocking, humorous, or heartwarming. It should be short and to the point, as people are more likely to read a headline that is not overly long or complex.
The content
When you see a story that’s been shared hundreds or thousands of times, it can be tempting to click without reading. But before you hit that share button, take a minute to look at the content of the story. A few key things to look for include:
-Is the story too good to be true?
-Does it confirm your biases?
-Is the source credible?
-Is the story well-written and free of grammatical errors?
-Does the story have a catchy headline?
If you can answer yes to any of these questions, there’s a good chance that the story is fake. But even if the story checks all of these boxes, that doesn’t mean it’s true –– you’ll still need to do some further digging to be sure.
The source
When trying to determine whether a story is real or fake, one of the first things you should look at is the source. A lot of times, fake news stories come from sources that aren’t well-known or reputable. If you’ve never heard of the website or publication before, be sure to do some additional research before taking the story at face value.
Another red flag to look out for is clickbait headlines. Headlines that are designed to Shock! Awe! Or!! Incite!! Emotion are more likely to be fake than ones that simply report the facts. If a headline sounds too good (or too bad) to be true, it probably is.
Finally, take a close look at the author of the story. Is there even an author listed? If not, that’s another strike against its validity. And even if there is an author listed, do a quick Google search to see if that person has a history of writing fake news stories. If they do, you’re probably better off not reading anything they have to say.
How to spot a fake viral story
We’ve all seen those stories that seem to come out of nowhere and take the internet by storm. But how can you tell if a story is actually viral or if it’s just fake? In this article, we’ll explore how to spot a fake viral story so that you can be the judge of what’s worth your attention.
Check the headline
When a headline is written in all caps, uses exclamation points, or asks a question, it’s often a sign that the story is more clickbait than news. Be wary of these headlines, and take the time to read the article before you share it.
Check the source
Is the story from a reputable news source, or is it from a blog you’ve never heard of? If it’s from the latter, be extra careful about sharing it.
Look for typos
Are there any typos in the article? This isn’t always a sign that something is fake, but it’s worth taking note of.
Check the date
Is the date on the story correct? If it’s not, that’s a definite red flag.
Check the content
When you come across a story that seems too good to be true, it probably is. hoaxes and fake news stories often go viral because they seem so unbelievable. But there are some red flags that can help you spot a fake story.
One of the easiest ways to check if a story is real is to do a simple Google search. If the story has been picked up by other news outlets, it’s likely to be true. If you can’t find anything else about the story, be wary.
Another way to check if a story is real is to look at the source. If the story comes from a less-than-reputable website, it’s more likely to be fake. Check for grammatical errors, too – often, fake stories are full of them.
If you’re still not sure, try contacting the person quoted in the story or the organization mentioned. A real person or organization will usually be happy to confirm or deny a story. If you can’t get in touch with anyone, that’s another red flag.
Keeping an eye out for these warning signs can help you sort fact from fiction next time you come across a viral story.
Check the source
When trying to determine whether a story is true or not, it’s important to first of all check the source. If the story comes from a reputable source, such as a mainstream news outlet, then it’s more likely to be true. However, if the story comes from a less reputable source, such as a blog or an unofficial website, then it’s more likely to be fake.
Another important thing to look for is whether the story has been fact-checked by other outlets. If other news sources have corroborated the story, then it’s more likely to be true. However, if the story is only coming from one source, and no one else has verified it, then it’s more likely to be fake.
Finally, you can also try looking for other stories on the same topic. If there are multiple stories from different sources all saying similar things, then the story is more likely to be true. However, if there is only one story about a topic and no one else is reporting on it, then it might be fake.
