According to Melissa Zimdars, a media professor at Merrimack College, fake news generally falls into four broad categories:
Category 1: Completely False or Misleading Sites
These are websites that consistently publish fake or deceptive content, often shared widely on social media. They frequently use sensational headlines and misleading or out-of-context information to provoke outrage and drive traffic for profit.
Category 2: Unreliable or Misleading Sources
These sites may not fabricate stories outright but often share information that is misleading, poorly sourced, or lacks credibility.
Category 3: Clickbait-Driven Content
Websites in this category use exaggerated or sensational headlines and social media blurbs to attract clicks. While the content may be partially accurate, the presentation is often misleading.
Category 4: Satirical or Comedic News
These sites use humor and satire to comment on current events and society. While they can offer valuable critique, their content is sometimes mistaken for factual reporting when shared out of context.
It’s important to note that a single piece of content can fall into more than one category. For example, a misleading medical article might be:
Because of this overlap, evaluating the quality and intent of the content is essential to determine its truthfulness. Ultimately, it’s your responsibility to verify the information you consume.
Why Does It Matter If Your News Is Real or Fake?
It helps if you first examine your own bias before you make judgments about the biases of others and of news sources.