More than half of adult Americans who were surveyed by the Pew Research Center report that they use social media to access the news. But in another Pew survey, 64 percent of adults say that "fake news" causes a great deal of confusion, and 23 percent report that they have shared "fake news" by mistake and sometimes intentionally. These surveys show that there is a widespread issue with the trustworthiness of information on social media. The misinformation--and sometimes blatant lies--shared on social media have caused people to lose faith in trusted institutions and make poor decisions regarding their health, careers, investing, and other areas. It has also kept them from developing a fact-based understanding of local, national, and international issues. Detecting Misinformation on Social Media takes a deep look at the types of "fake news," such as clickbait, propaganda, imposter content, and deepfakes, as well as the types of "bad actors" who promote disinformation on social media and their goals for doing so. It also provides advice on how to identify questionable sources and find trustworthy resources. Detecting Misinformation on Social Media is one of five titles in the Social Media Today series. Other titles include All About Social Media, The Benefits and Dangers of Social Media, Exploring Social Media Careers, and Mastering Social Media for Success. The series will help turn social media novices into social media pros.
