How to behave when you encounter a viral story

Very good article by Adi Robertson, on the Verge, on how to behave when you encounter a viral story, misinformation, or a piece of news that may be a bit too engaging:

Good journalism should provoke feelings. But bad journalism — like tabloid sensationalism, hyperpartisan fear-mongering, and deliberate disinformation — exploits them. Its creators try to convince people that thinking and feeling are opposed to each other, so if you’re upset or happy about a story, you shouldn’t care about the details.

But being strongly moved by a story should make you want to know more, not less. If the news is accurate, you’ll end up learning important nuances about an issue you care about. And if it’s false or misleading, you can warn other people away from falling for it.

Robertson’s work is a straight-to-the-point, easy to understand, useful, and accessible resource: another great guide on what to do when reading a potential fake news story. Sadly, like the others before, it probably won’t become viral enough to have a future where misinformation is not a major concern.