New handbook helps citizens to debunk fake news

The battle against fake news has gained a powerful new weapon, with leading experts across the globe penning a free new handbook describing the best ways to combat misinformation.

Just the facts, Ma’am

Fake news has proliferated around COVID-19, so how can scientists cut through the misinformation about the pandemic to inform the public of the facts?

The truth is out there

COVID-19 has generated an information – and misinformation – overload. But what people need are updates that are relevant, concise and don’t offer false hope.

Arvanitakis on American politics: Don’t believe the social media hype

Promoting online literacy for young people and demanding social media quickly responds to fake news are worthwhile goals, but they do not deal with the underlying dissatisfaction which allows fake news to take root.

Fake news in the age of COVID-19

Over the last four years, “fake news” has become an everyday expression, but what effect are misinformation spread by the public and disinformation pushed by hostile states having on our perceptions of COVID-19?

Fake news can be fatal

The deluge of fake news around coronavirus is a pandemic in itself, and if enough fake news consumers act upon the false beliefs or uncertainties being spread, it has the potential to be just as lethal.

The truth v. good stories

From hashtags to deepfakes, Dr Cameron Edmond from the UNSW Faculty of Art & Design addresses how to navigate the murky waters of online misinformation.

Friends, Romans, fake news

In a world of ‘alternative facts’ and spin, Shakespeare’s plays can help teach us how to grasp complexity and expose manipulation.

Governments are making fake news a crime – but will it stifle free speech?

Whenever governments get involved in policing the media – even for the best-intended reasons – there is always the possibility of corruption and a reduction in genuine free speech.

How fake news gets into our minds, and what you can do to resist it

The way our memory works means it might be impossible to resist fake news completely but thinking like a scientist could help. This involves adopting a questioning attitude that is motivated by curiosity, and being aware of personal bias.

Photos encourage people to believe ‘fake news’

People are more likely to believe a true or false claim if it is paired with a photograph, a researcher from The Australian National University has found.

Defence against the dark arts: giving ‘fake news’ the boot

Disinformation campaigns are nothing new. The so-called dark arts of psychological warfare are a tried and tested tactic to foster distrust in government.