Fake news isn’t new. Some of the earliest newspapers in the U.S. did it hundreds of years ago. They made up stories, or made stories seem more shocking, to sell copies and stir up political action. Things got better in the 20th century. Truth and accuracy became important in print, radio, and television news reporting.
But not everyone gets news from trustworthy sources. More and more people are turning to social media instead. Sadly, the information found there may be false. It can come from sources that are biased, that don’t check their facts, or that make things up (see How Teens Get Their News).
Almost anyone can use today’s technology to create a webpage. The page can look almost the same as trustworthy news sites. Then people use these fake websites to post over-the-top stories. They also post ads that look like news to attract visitors. Some people do it as a joke or to make money, but others may have a more harmful reason. They want to fool the public for personal or political gain.
Not long ago, most people wouldn’t have seen this type of online content. It would have stayed hidden in the darkest corners of the internet. But the rise of social media has helped some forms of fake news become common. “Anyone can reach an international audience,” says Charles Seife. He’s a journalism professor at New York University in New York City. “All you have to do is put something on Twitter.”