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Fake News: History of Fake News

Fake News: the history, hysteria, and hype – and how to see through the subterfuge.

Very Brief History of Fake News

Fake news is nothing new. It has been around for many years. Here are a few examples of fake news through time:

  • Fake news can (arguably) be traced as far back as the fall of the Knights Templar in the early 1300s.
  • An NPR article explains that long before fake news, there were fake/ staged photos.
  • Yellow journalism is a term coined in the 1890s to describe sensational news that is not well-researched but instead strives to be eye-catching to sell more newspapers.
  • According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, tall-tale postcards emerged in the early 1900s with larger-than-life images of crops and animals, thanks to clever photography and darkroom tricks.
  • A trip to your local grocery or convenience store’s checkout lane will reveal a plethora of tabloids containing fictional or less than reputable information, often about celebrities; and these tabloids have been in publication for many years (some of which include the National Enquirer, National Examiner, Star, Globe, and Weekly World News).

Additional Reading

The Rise of Fake News

Social Media

If fake news is nothing new, why is it at the forefront of current issues plaguing society? One big reason is social media (the fuel to the flame).

Social media usage has exploded in the last several years. It has become part of everyday life. In fact, a 2018 survey from the Pew Research Center indicated that 68% of adults get their news from social media. This number is up from 49% in 2012. Social media, like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc., have become one-stop shops for sharing content, interacting with others, and, you guessed it, getting news.

Sharing content on social media has never been easier. One or two clicks is all it takes. But did you take the time to read more than just the headline before you liked, commented, or shared? Is the source reputable? Unfortunately, fake news outlets use social media to their advantage because the before mentioned questions go unanswered, it is easy for them to share things too, they are able to reach a wide audience, and their headlines or images draw people in (also referred to as clickbait).

With so much information present on social media and the sharing of it, it can be easy to skim something and not realize it might be fake. People do not always take the time to fact check something before sharing or commenting.


Other Reasons

Social media cannot be completely blamed, however, for the rise of fake news. Other contributing factors include:

  • Lack of media literacy
  • Ease of creating a blog or posting your own stories online
  • Tendency to trust what is seen on the internet
  • Tendency to trust the information received from friends and family
  • People moving away from newspapers, television, and radio to get their news
  • Evolution of the news (such as continuous coverage of an event without new and/or reliable information – this can lead to speculation and opinion)

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Many of these resources and programs are funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.