The information I've presented in the following article was inspired by my News Literacy class at Stony Brook University.

After this whole Pizzagate incident, I think it’s time to initiate the discussion about fake news. Now, I know you’re probably thinking that you have an incredible BS detector, but I can assure you that not everything you share on your Facebook timeline is legit, not to mention the fact that Mark Zuckerberg is currently going through his very own crisis on what to do with fake news. Let’s not worry about whether or not Zuckerberg should attain the power of editorial judgement right now though (but, if you’re curious, we live in a free-speech society where there’s no room or time to restrict the flow of free publication for any reason). What’s more important here is self-accountability. As a news consumer, you are responsible for determine what’s real news and what’s not, and that’s a huge responsibility. So, I’m going to set you up for success with this guide on how to spot fake news. Before you share something on Facebook for all your friends and family to see, ask yourself these essential questions:

1. How can you be sure that this information is true? Where’s the evidence?

If the story sounds too good to be true, it might be just that.

2. BEWARE OF HEADLINES IN CAPITAL LETTERS.

Like that. Especially if they’re in red. Have you ever seen CNN or The New York Times post a headline in big red letters? This isn’t your fifth grade science fair; real news sites don’t use word-art.

3. Who is responsible for the story?

If the story is written by an anonymous source, then what gives you reason to believe that it’s credible? If the name of the writer is provided, do some research. What have they posted before?

4. Is this website legit?

Don’t be fooled by websites that use logos and names of reputable news companies. Take abcnews.com.co. On the website, the ABC News logo is provided and news stories fill the page. Seems legit, right? Well, as you probably could’ve guessed by now, it’s a fraud. First of all, the domain “.co” signifies that the website was created in Colombia. Following the steps from the rest of this guide will point red-flags in every direction.

5. Check if it’s a legit website before sharing.

A simple Google search with the website’s name along with “fake” can reveal if the site is fake or not.

6. Do a quick reverse-image search.

Go to Google Images and drag the picture from your desktop to the search bar. You’ll see that often, the images used in these fake news articles are actually real, but are usually used in different context.

7. Don’t confuse the sender with the source of information.

I know you love your great aunt Sally, but not all the articles she shares on Facebook are true.

I know this all sounds like a lot of work, but I promise it’s not. And it’s all worth it in the end, especially when some people are taking violent action after hearing about fake news instances like Pizzagate. Since it’s almost impossible to control the flow of information, especially in a free-speech society like our own, we must take it upon ourselves to stop misinformation from circulating the internet.