FAKE NEWS AND MISINFORMATION: A Modern Challenge

In today's digital age, information is available at the touch of a button.

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While this has empowered societies with knowledge and awareness, it has also created a serious challenge. In a world where news travels faster than the speed of light-spreading from one smartphone screen to millions in seconds-truth has found itself in crisis.

Welcome to the age of fake news and misinformation, where rumours masquerade as facts, opinions are dressed up as evidence, and lies can sometimes feel louder than the truth. "Fake news" isn't just about silly hoaxes anymore. It refers to deliberately fabricated information, created to mislead readers. Misinformation, on the other hand, is slightly different-it's when false or inaccurate content is shared unknowingly.

Both can misguide people, but fake news is especially dangerous because it's often designed with an agenda: political influence, profit, or propaganda.

With billions of active users, social media has become a breeding ground for rumours, hoaxes, and unverified claims. Many people are unable to distinguish between credible sources and misleading content. Individuals tend to believe information that aligns with their pre-existing beliefs, regardless of its authenticity. Usually, people do not seek out the objective facts behind any information and start interpreting information to support existing beliefs.