Learn in the textbookOnline Codes of Conduct and Handling Harmful Information
DefinitionFake news (フェイクニュース) is information that spreads untrue or distorted content in a form that looks like news reporting.
ExplanationThe motives vary, from attracting attention and ad revenue to steering public opinion in a particular direction, and on social media it can spread widely in a short time. Realistic images and videos made with generative AI are sometimes used as well. The basic response is for recipients to check the source and evidence (fact-checking, ファクトチェック) and not to spread anything they cannot verify.
AnalogyIf a note saying "apparently the water will be cut off from next week" comes around the neighborhood and you pass it to the next house without checking where it came from, the mistake spreads while looking like the truth.
Memory hook"Fake" means counterfeit. It has the shape of news, but the contents are counterfeit, exactly as the word says.