Basic kit to identify and combat fake news
Universidad Nebrija provides a basic kit to detect fake news, helping to combat the digital disinformation that impacts thousands daily.
Digital disinformation has become one of
the greatest challenges of the current era, as digital platforms allow information to spread quickly, but without always ensuring its accuracy.In this context, it becomes crucial for citizens to acquire tools to distinguish between authentic and false news, thus preventing the manipulation of information from affecting their decisions and worldview.
To identify fake news, Dr. Laura Martínez Otón, director of the Master’s in Radio, Podcast, and Digital Audio at Universidad Nebrija, recommends paying attention to exaggerated headlines designed to attract clicks, the absence of a signature or the use of false names, the lack of references to real profiles on social media, an excess of adjectives aimed at appealing to emotions, spelling and writing errors, as well as the lack of author information on digital platforms.
Survey on Disinformation
A high percentage of people are exposed to misleading or false news daily, according to a 2023 survey conducted by Activa Research in Latin America.
Brazil leads the list with a 60% incidence, followed closely by Ecuador with 58%, and Colombia in third place with 53%.
Furthermore, 73% of Colombians lack the ability to distinguish false information from real news, worsening the disinformation problem in the country.
The Impact of Fake News
According to Dr. Martínez Otón:
”Behind fake news, there are increasingly larger corporations creating it to make detection difficult for citizens. We must always apply coherence when a news story seems overly sensational. This is explained because fake news often appeals to emotions.”
Disinformation in Colombia
In Colombia, disinformation has influenced various areas, from politics to public safety. During the 2021 national strike, out-of-context images and montages fueled social polarization.
Social media has become the main channel for disinformation diffusion in the country, affecting trust in institutions and the perception of safety.
Martínez Otón explains that:
”The spread of fake news can directly influence citizens’ perception. Therefore, citizens must maintain a constant level of information to have a real-time map of what is happening in their country’s politics.”
Artificial Intelligence and Fake News
With the arrival of artificial intelligence, the proliferation of fake news has become even more complicated.
Professor Martínez Otón warns:
”Currently, the process of audiovisual creation has been democratized, allowing deepfakes, videos, and audios created by AI to be generated. Hence, it is important to learn reverse search techniques for verification, what is known as fact-checking. If that video or photo is true, it will appear published in serious and credible traditional media. If it’s fake, the search engine will tell you too if it does not appear published. When in doubt, never share such content.”
In response to this issue, Universidad Nebrija organizes the Checking Nebrija workshop annually, specializing in identifying fake news, with the aim of providing journalism students with effective tools to combat disinformation.
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