How to Avoid Falling into Fake News Websites?

Recently,

a news article titled "_Low-brow sensationalism, eye-catching headlines, and the culture of 'cutting off ears' is unacceptable_" was spread online, but the police found that it was fabricated by an individual impersonating a media outlet. The investigation revealed that this type of behavior is not isolated, and in fact, a mature "industry chain" has been developed behind the scenes. With low technical barriers and costs, many unscrupulous individuals are taking advantage of fake news websites to manipulate public opinion, sell counterfeit certificates, and reap economic benefits.

Fake news websites, also known as clone sites or imposter sites, have long existed and are subject to constant regulation and cleaning. From recent typical cases and the thorough investigation that followed, it is clear that this "gray industry" is still rampant and pervasive. The level of fake news fabrication has reached an unprecedented height, with no regard for the consequences, involving various fields and affecting people's cognitive abilities. Some journalists have tested this by contacting professional teams on open e-commerce platforms to replicate a website, achieving a replication rate of over 90%.

The two most common design features of fake news websites are "verification" and "endorsement." The former is self-explanatory, involving verification of products or certificates. The latter mainly involves impersonating official or authoritative websites to spread false information, boosting a particular individual, organization, achievement, or product.

What's worth noting is that in the context of new media and social platforms, fake news websites have developed new scenarios, such as "impersonation and counterfeiting"...... In today's self-media dominated era, official media outlets are increasingly valued for their stability, maturity, and authority. Many people have keenly sensed this structural feature of public opinion and, in turn, have thought of the manipulation of public opinion through fake news websites.

This recent high-profile case of fake news websites is just a rare exception that has attracted attention. In reality, there are still many "fake screenshots" and "false links" circulating online in various communities, polluting information and distorting cognition. In the absence of technical means to completely eliminate the source of the problem, it is essential to minimize the impact by emphasizing good reading habits, critical thinking, and common sense intuition.

Finding the true website, reading the original content, and being cautious in a background where fake websites are constantly emerging, are the best ways to avoid being misled and protect oneself. This requires a healthy dose of skepticism, an ability to discern truth from falsehood, and a habit of verifying information.

The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author.