ADVERTISEMENT
A real report is much harder to fake convincingly because it leaves a trail across multiple sources.
What Would Happen If a Former President Actually Died? The scale of the response would be enormous.
But responsible fact-checking should be precise
Although he is no longer president, the death of a former president would still be a major national event.
Congressional leaders would issue statements.
International leaders would offer condolences.
The story would become the dominant headline across the country.
This is why the absence of such widespread confirmation is so significant.
The Importance of Official Sources When a story concerns a plane crash, official aviation authorities are particularly important.
Investigators need to determine whether an aircraft actually disappeared, whether emergency responders were dispatched and whether wreckage has been located.
Depending on where an accident occurred, different agencies could become involved.
The Federal Aviation Administration regulates civil aviation.
In Canada, aviation investigations can involve the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
Local police, fire departments and emergency services may also issue information.
Joe Biden’s first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden, and their infant…
A credible report about a major crash should therefore leave multiple official traces.
The viral Biden claim does not provide those traces.
Why People Believe Stories Like This It is easy to assume that only careless people fall for fake news.
Reality is more complicated.
People believe dramatic claims for several reasons.
First, the information may come from someone they know.
A friend or relative shares the post, and that creates an initial layer of trust.
Second, the post may use professional-looking language.
Third, the claim may involve a real public figure.
Fourth, the wording may imply that everyone else already knows the news.
And fifth, the reader may be emotionally shocked.
A claim that a former president has died can trigger an immediate reaction.
People may share first and investigate later.
That is exactly why sensational misinformation spreads so quickly.
The Emotional Element Is Part of the Strategy False death announcements are particularly effective because death is emotionally powerful.
When readers see that a beloved or controversial public figure has supposedly died, they may experience shock, sadness, anger or disbelief.
Those emotions can override skepticism.
The post may then be shared with captions such as:
“Is this real?”
There is no responsible basis for repeating the deaths as…
“Please confirm.”
“Praying for the family.”
Ironically, even people who doubt the story can help spread it by sharing it for verification.
The result is that the claim becomes more visible.
The algorithm sees engagement.
More people encounter it.
More people react.
And the cycle continues.
A Better Way to Respond When encountering a breaking claim like this, the best first step is simple:
Stop.
Don’t share it.
Don’t comment immediately.
Don’t assume the person who posted it checked the facts
Don’t assume the person who posted it checked the facts.
Instead, search for the original source.
If the claim says Fox News reported something, look for the actual Fox News story.
Then check at least two independent reputable news organizations.
For an aircraft accident, look for official aviation or emergency-response information.
If none of those sources confirm the event, treat the claim as unverified.
Look for Specific Details Another useful technique is to examine the details.
Ask:
ADVERTISEMENT
