Jan 31, 2017 02:24 PM EST By Audri Taylors, UniversityHerald Reporter

Fake news on social media is a real problem. There are just so many posts with competing and conflicting information and these days, it is really very difficult to tell which ones are real from the ones that are not.

The social media platforms are one of those that faced a lot of criticisms because of its role for disseminating fake and misleading stories that are indistinguishable from real news. What is more scary is that social media users, specifically Facebook users, are 2.5 times more likely to click on fake news links that legitimate links to real newspapers, Campus News reported. Several articles would claim that it is mostly millennials that are writing these fake news to earn money from it.

A study from the Stanford University suggests that 80 to 90 percent of students have trouble judging the credibility of the news and information they read, according to NPR. This means that it is going to be more difficult to make them prepared and keep them guided with the decisions they make and the things they should believe moving forward. Another bad news is that even older people and parents who are supposed to lead them are the ones who are sharing the fake news.

As a student, it is going to be difficult because while you are trying your best to be better informed, it is hard to tell these days which news are still trustworthy. It will affect not only your studies, your education, but it will also affect your beliefs and principles which will shape your thoughts and who you are as a person and who you will become in the future.

It cannot be emphasized any further how important it is to be cautious of the information and news we receive and read. Always take time to check if the sources are reliable, maximize the use of the internet, and do not hesitate to question everything. You do not want fake news to make a fool out of you.

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