HOW TO SPOT FAKE NEWS (According to Facebook)

☞ Be skeptical of headlines:  Fake news headlines often sound too good to be true — because they are. And beware of exclamation points and headlines written in all caps. 

☞ Look closely at the link:  Have you heard of the news site in the URL? Does it sound like an established news source, but there’s a letter or two added, or missing? Those are telltale signs.

☞ Investigate the source:  Be aware of which outlets you trust, and watch out for them. Google the ones you haven’t heard of to see if they are reputable.

☞ Watch for unusual formatting:  Could you design a better homepage than that? Do you see spelling errors, and find the layout awkward? If the site you’re on looks off, the problem likely goes deeper.

☞ Look at other reports:  Is the outlet you’re reading the only one to report something extreme? Try to verify the story with Google.

☞ Is the story a joke? Some people don’t realize that The Onion and The Beaverton are satirical publications. Their stories are designed to look like real news, but they’re intended as parodies.