Kejriwal is threatening to resign as the Chief Minister of Delhi as he is opposed Modi’s demonetisation scheme and wants to prove a point to the Prime Minister.

Now, by spreading this sort of news and information one would actually expect Kejriwal to resign within the next few days. But the truth is he won’t because he never said anything like that. It’s pretty clear that you clicked on this article or even shared it without actually checking what the hell is actually written in the article. Now that we have your attention, let’s talk about the real point behind this article.

In case you didn’t notice, this news is fake! We just wanted to point out a relevant problem that exists on the internet today. We recently pointed out that Fake news can influence people’s minds or even elections and Facebook’s inability to curb fake news makes it one of the most unreliable sources of information. That was the whole point of this article, to make you click on something that you thought was true but it actually isn’t.

Social media is a great platform to connect with people all over the world, at least that was the point 6 years ago. Today, we get 40% of our news from social media websites like Facebook and Twitter. You’re probably here because you saw this on our social media pages too.

This was an exercise to show how misinformation is being flooded in our timelines for the past few years. From fake death news to fake political claims, this has always been a problem. It exploded during the US elections and it exploded in India with false claims about UNESCO claiming Narendra Modi as the best PM in the world. Reliable sources then have to play as watchdogs and debunk these hoaxes we keep seeing in our news feed.

What people don’t realise is that people will like and share articles purely based on the headline. That’s why you are here too. The only reason why you clicked on this story was because you either thought it was shocking or it resonated with your pre-conceived notion. Some people, never actually read the article. They don’t even bother to read what the fuck is actually written and form opinions purely based on the headline. And these are the folks who need to hear this the most.

Some people just want to hear and read whatever lines up with their opinion. They want to eat up a story that they want to be fed. And most of the time they share these articles because it conforms to their opinion. Unfortunately, that’s how the Internet functions these days. Back in the day, journalism was considered prestigious and trustworthy, and because of responsible journalism, the public was well informed (well, to an extent). A well-informed public is and always will be the route to a functional society. That’s why the Greeks and the Romans dominated the world in their relevant ages because it was a time of enlightenment and information. People were well informed about their empires and what they were doing in the political and social sphere.

Unfortunately, we cannot say the same today. Misinformation and uninformed masses are ever so prevalent on the Internet today, which makes it scary for everyone. Fake news is an epidemic that can influence elections, send people to jail or even destroy lives. This epidemic needs to be curbed, and we are the only ones who can do it.

How do you spot Fake News?

It’s very simple. Do your own research. Get off that chair or the shit-pot, and actually, read the article before you share it on your timeline. Remember, if you post fake news on your timeline, you’re the one who looks like an idiot. Not us for pointing it out. But if you require a guide on how to do this, you can follow these very easy and obvious steps:

1. Read the damn article!

You were taught how to read for a reason. Hell, even I have shared articles that were found to be untrue. The only difference was I learned from my mistake. So yes, read beyond the headline.

2. What’s the source?

Many times, a lot of good and true information comes from social media but it is also filled with utter rubbish. When you are asked to write a dissertation in college, the first thing they teach you is “who or what’s the source?” Any article, journal or facts and figures should be backed up with sources. Check the articles that have used and quoted primary or secondary research. Check those sources as well and make sure they are true or factual. If you find no source for the facts an article claims, ignore it.

3. Google it!

Google has been our friend for a long time. Make use of it. If you see a story that you might suspect being fake, then always Google the damn story. See if there are other outlets that are reporting the same. Double check the facts claimed by the article or simply check if anyone is challenging those facts. It’s paramount you read articles across all spheres and then form an opinion.

Imagine a world where we all follow these simple steps to make our society as well informed as possible. We wouldn’t have Trump as the President of the most powerful nation in the world and we wouldn’t pay much attention to Baba Ramdev. Having opinions is necessary, there is nothing wrong in that, but we can at least be responsible enough to check facts and be in touch with reality?

Now go share this with your friends, share it on your timeline. Make the conscious decision of informing people.

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