Is Fake News Really An Issue

These days fake news has been making the real news. What I mean by that is the media is paying attention to fake news stories that circulate, especially online on sites like Facebook. In other words, it seems like more and more fake news stories are making their rounds, but is it really an issue? I don't think there's an easy answer to that question, but I'll try to see both sides.

Why It May Be An Issue
Fake news can be a real concern because it can have real consequences. I remember reading about an incident in which a man committed a crime against a pizza joint because a fake news story was circulating. I can't remember the whole story, but basically the fake news article was the motivation for the crime. If memory serves me right, the story was called Pizzagate.

Another reason why it can be an issue is it's easy to dupe and trick people who don't read or watch the news on a regularly basis. If they use Facebook, they may notice a story trending that isn't true and they will instantly believe it, share it and then the fake news story can spread on the site like wildfire.

That brings me to the next issue. Fake news stories, like any other kind of content, can be distributed very quickly. A fake news story can easily go viral and gain a lot of attention within a short period of time.

. Spreading false information can have real consequences
. It's easy to dupe people who don't read news regularly
. It's easy to distribute content quickly

Why Some May Think It's Not An Issue
A lot of people may think fake news is easy to spot. They may believe that most people will be able to distinguish what is real and what isn't.

. Some may think it's easy to distinguish

I'm sure I could have kept going on and on about the reasons people think fake news is an issue or why it's not an issue, but I'll leave it at that.

(Photo via Pixabay, public domain)