Spreading Fake News
　There has been a lot of talk about how made-up stories can end up influencing the real world, and many agree that that’s a real problem.// Fake news spreads faster and more easily than viruses.// This is called an “infodemic.”//
　But did you know that it is not a new one?// We can see evidence dating back thousands of years of leaders, artists and historians bending the truth to make themselves look good, or to tell a better story.// During the First and Second World Wars, governments on both sides would exaggerate to make their enemies look bad.// As the 20th century went on and TV joined the newspaper and radio, journalism ethics evolved.// But that doesn’t mean fake news went away.//
　Then came the Internet, and things got a little more complicated.// All of a sudden, anyone could be a publisher.// With so much information out there, it could be hard to know what to believe.// Social media has made things worse by letting us share stories without making it clear where they came from or if the source is reliable.// Plus, we are more likely to believe them when they are shared by our trusted friends.//
　Then how can we spot the fake news?// Let’s discuss this topic next.//