Fact vs Fiction: Fake News and Deepfakes

Not everything you read or see on the internet is true! It’s very important to be able to tell the difference between fact and fiction. Anyone can create a website, post a video, or share a story — but that does not mean the information is correct. Learning to spot fake news and deepfakes is one of the most important skills you can have as a digital citizen.

What is “Fake News”?

Fake news is information that is made up to look like a real news story but isn’t true. It might be created to trick people, to make them feel a certain way, or to get lots of clicks and shares. Fake news can look very convincing because it often uses real photos, real names, and professional-looking websites.

Here is an example of what fake news might look like:

Breaking News: Scientists Discover Talking Cats!

A team of researchers in Switzerland announced today that they have found a breed of cat that can speak full sentences. The cats are said to prefer discussing fish recipes and napping schedules.

This story might be funny, but it is completely made up! A real news story would name the exact scientists, link to their research, and be reported by many trusted news websites.

Sometimes fake news is not so obvious. It might be a story about a real event but with the facts twisted or changed to make people angry or scared. That is why it is always a good idea to check different websites to see if they are all saying the same thing.

Why Do People Create Fake News?

You might wonder why someone would spend time making up fake stories. There are a few reasons:

• To make money: Some websites earn money every time someone clicks on their page. A shocking or surprising headline gets more clicks, even if the story is not true.
• To influence opinions: Fake news can be used to make people like or dislike a person, a group, or an idea. It plays on emotions like fear or excitement.
• For fun or as a joke: Some people create fake stories as pranks, not realizing that others might believe them and share them widely.
• To cause confusion: Sometimes fake news is spread simply to make it hard for people to know what is true and what is not.

Deepfakes: Seeing isn’t Always Believing

A deepfake is a video or an image that has been changed using a computer to make it look like someone is saying or doing something they never actually did! Deepfakes are created using a special kind of computer program called artificial intelligence, or AI. The AI studies thousands of photos and videos of a real person’s face and learns how to copy their expressions, voice, and movements.

Deepfakes can look very realistic, and it can be hard to tell that they are not real. But there are often small clues if you look closely:

• Strange blinking: The person’s eyes might not blink in a natural way, or they might not blink at all.
• Weird edges: The outline of the face or hair might look blurry or slightly mismatched with the background.
• Unnatural lighting: The shadows on the face might not match the light in the rest of the scene.
• Strange mouth movements: The lips might not match the words being spoken perfectly.

Even if a deepfake looks convincing, always remember: seeing is not always believing!

How to be a Digital Detective

When you see something online, ask yourself these questions:

• Who wrote this? Is it from a website you trust, like a well-known news organization or an educational site? Or is it from a blog or social media account you have never heard of?
• Does it seem too good (or too bad) to be true? If a story is extremely surprising, shocking, or perfectly matches what you already believe, be extra careful. Real life is usually more complicated.
• Are other news sites reporting the same thing? If a big story is true, you will usually find it on several different trusted websites. If only one random site is talking about it, that is a red flag.
• If it’s a video, does it look a bit “off” or strange? Look at the person’s face, eyes, and mouth. Does anything look unnatural?
• When was this published? Sometimes an old story is shared again as if it just happened. Checking the date can save you from believing outdated or recycled news.

What Should You Do If You Find Fake News?

If you think a story or video might be fake, here is what you can do:

1. Don’t share it yet. Even if you are not sure it is fake, sharing it can spread misinformation to your friends and family.
2. Do a quick search. Look up the main idea on a trusted search engine and see if other reliable websites are reporting it.
3. Ask an adult. Show the story to a parent, teacher, or another trusted adult and ask what they think.
4. Report it. If the fake story is on a social media platform or video site, you can often report it as false or misleading.
5. Talk about it. If a friend shares something that you know is fake, tell them kindly. Helping each other spot fake news makes everyone safer online.

Did you know?

• A Billion Deepfakes: As computers get more powerful, it’s becoming easier and faster for people to create deepfakes. Experts estimate that the number of deepfake videos online grows by thousands every single month!
• The Power of Rumors: Fake stories can spread much faster than real ones because they’re often more exciting or surprising. A false story can travel around the world before the truth has a chance to catch up.
• Fact-Checking: There are special websites whose whole job is to “fact-check” stories and let you know if they’re true or false. Examples include Snopes, FactCheck.org, and PolitiFact.
• The First Deepfake: The term “deepfake” became popular around 2017 when a user online posted realistic-looking videos of famous actors in movies they had never actually appeared in.

Check Your Knowledge

1. What is “fake news”?
2. What is a “deepfake,” and how is it made?
3. Name two reasons why someone might create fake news.
4. What are three questions you can ask yourself to help decide if a story or video is true?
5. What should you do first if you see a story online that you think might be fake?