Fake News at the Workplace ???
The moment we go online, it feels like everyone is propelling information at us in order to capture a moment of our attention. Starting from businesses, charities, news sites to political organisations, all are competing for our attention.
Often at the work place we share new information with our colleagues. We may have seen an advertisement about a new business or a policy by a politician or even a breaking news on our Twitter feed which we go on to share with our colleagues.
But in this race for our attention, not all these institutions and people feel like they have to tell us the truth. This hurts our personal reputation at the work place as we share unverified information which unintentionally may lead to misleading and misinforming our colleagues. Slowly people’s trust in us, along with our professional reputation, will be eroded. Therefore, it is extremely important today that we verify information before sharing them.
Here are my tips on how to spot Fake News:
- Consider the Source: Always check and investigate the website, its mission and contact details.
- Background of the Author: Do a quick search of the Author and check their credentials.
- Look for Supporting Sources: Establish if the information presented is backed up with supporting evidence.
- Check the Date: Check if the story is current or recycled.
- Ask the Pros: Ask a subject matter expert or even consult a fact-checking site.
Mokokoma Mokhonoana said, “It is unfortunate that it is possible to 'know' something that is not true.”
It is really important that we avoid sharing stories that we are unsure about. I hope my tips will give you control over what news you read and which stories you choose to share.