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Month: December 2016

Anti-fake news methods are logically flawed

Anti-fake news methods are logically flawed

The real weakness exposed by fake news may be this: critical thinking skills. Source: Your new civic duty: Flagging fake news True. And: Digital media has changed the game by speeding blatantly false information to millions in a matter of seconds, the eagerness of people to embrace “evidence” that supports their opinions, and the “monetization of viewing” that makes fake news lucrative. Social media cuts the cost of a printing press or a broadcast station to zero. Today, everyone can…

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Up to 76% of hiring managers profile job candidates on social media

Up to 76% of hiring managers profile job candidates on social media

Be careful about what you post online. Up to 76% of hiring managers review the social media posts of job applicants: Hiring managers in information technology and sales are the most likely to use social networks to screen candidates; professional and business services were least likely. IT: 76 percent Sales: 65 percent Financial services: 61 percent Health care: 59 percent Retail: 59 percent Manufacturing: 56 percent Professional and business services: 55 percent Source: Number of Employers Using Social Media to…

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Fake news: Anonymously sourced social media as the basis for news reports

Fake news: Anonymously sourced social media as the basis for news reports

This “news” report is based on an anonymously authored social media account: While the American media and leaders in Washington, D.C., wonder if Vladimir Putin’s government played dirty tricks to get Donald Trump elected, rich Russian youngsters have better things to worry about. Like expensive cars, bubble baths, jewelry, private jets — and showing it off on social media for the world to see. An anonymous Instagram account called RichRussianKids is still providing glimpses of the opulent lifestyle of “minigarchs,” or…

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Facebook testing anti-fake news features

Facebook testing anti-fake news features

Facebook is going to start fact checking, labeling, and burying fake news and hoaxes in the News Feed, the company announced on Thursday. Source: Facebook is going to use Snopes and other fact checkers to combat fake news “Fake news” is what we used to call “propaganda”. Facebook has been aware of the propaganda platform issue since at least 2014. Many users (like me) use FB less because we recognize that FB is an ideal platform for the friction-less distribution…

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Fake news fools about 75% of the time

Fake news fools about 75% of the time

In a survey conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs for BuzzFeed News, 71 percent of self-identifying Democrats surveyed mistook fake news headlines for real stories. Those who identify as Republicans fell for the false headlines at a higher rate, with 84 percent of those surveyed believing they were true. Source: The fake news stories that fooled liberals in 2016. Read the original report here.  (UPDATE: This link goes to Buzzfeed, which confirmed in Jan 2017 that they lack traditional media editorial standards…

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