This guide provides links to various articles and other resources that will help explain how and why fake news has become a problem, how to identify a fake news story (and how to do your own fact-checking of a suspicious article), and what can be done to improve the situation. There are even links to a few typical fake news stories, as well as case studies that provide examples of identifying and exposing articles in which false information is masquerading as actual news.
What is "Fake News," and Why is it a Problem?
New York Times article about the traditional media's need to challenge the spread of fake news on the internet and social media.
A BuzzFeed analysis, which discovered that the top fake election news stories generated more engagement on Facebook than the top election stories from 19 major news outlets combined.
Story from National Public Radio about an academic study that assessed students' abilities to critically examine online sources of news and information.
A study by the Pew Research Center analyzing the ways in which "social media news consumers" engage with news stories across nine social networking sites.
An article from the Guardian newspaper about the spread of fake news, its role in the 2016 presidential election, and whether Facebook is partially responsible.
An article form the BBC about fake news and the concerns surrounding it.
Wikipedia Entry for "Fake News"
Wikipedia's article includes information about the origins and impact of fake news, as well as a summary of fake news stories in various countries around the world.