One way that "fake news", or news in general, can convey its message is by appealing to your emotions. Whether that emotion is joy, frustration, or empathy. A suggestion posted by Cornell University Library discusses "pause before your share" by sharing an excerpt from author Michael Arthur Caulfields', Building a Habit by Checking Your Emotions.
"When you feel strong emotion — happiness, anger, pride, vindication — and that emotion pushes you to share a "fact" with others, STOP. Above all, it’s these things that you must fact-check.
Why? Because you’re already likely to check things you know are important to get right, and you’re predisposed to analyze things that put you in an intellectual frame of mind. But things that make you angry or overjoyed, well… our record as humans are not good with these things."
The whole concept of social media is for you to share things that appeal to you in hopes that they appeal to your followers or friends, too. After reading Caulfields' article, it really makes you think to stop and think about what you're reading and not just how it made you feel, but WHY it made you feel that way.
"Use your emotions as a reminder. Strong emotions should become a trigger for your new fact-checking habit. Every time content you want to share makes you feel rage, laughter, ridicule, or even a heartwarming buzz, spend 30 seconds fact-checking. It will do you well."
[1 photo, 2 quotes, 2 links, 255 words]
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