Fake news is no longer a matter of the occasional hoax. There is growing evidence that fake news has the power to shape public opinion and even sway elections. As more Americans get their news online, it is increasingly vital that students know how to verify sources and spot fake news or images, which often appear indistinguishable from a reliable source. This lesson asks you to analyze the consequences of fake news and build the skills needed to question and verify what you view online.
-Watch the following video: https://youtu.be/rR7j11Wpjiw
-Read this article: https://www.kqed.org/lowdown/24674/the-honest-truth-about-fake-news-with-lesson-plan
-listen to this short podcast: https://www.npr.org/2015/12/21/460602085/digital-culture-critic-abandons-fake-on-the-internet-column
-take this quiz: https://www.politifact.com/article/2017/jun/19/real-or-fake-tour-fake-news-quiz-find-out/.
Once you have watched/read the above, answer the following questions:
What are potential consequences when fake news goes viral? Why do people believe fake news? What actions can individuals take to verify news stories, photographs and other sources of online information?
Remember that this is a research paper, not an opinion paper, statements must be backed up with sources (2-3 pages, a minimum of 3 external sources).
