Free Printable Lessons for English Teachers
Today, we will discuss fake news. Why is it happening? Why are people creating fake news? Have they got nothing better to do?
To clarify, fake news is the deliberate spread of misinformation. It is a type of hoax. It is phoney news. It can also be biased news, to derail a situation or real story. Fake news is not factual news. So when people read a story, they struggle to know whether it is fact or fiction.
Like it or lump it, fake news is everywhere. The internet is flooded with fake news. It helps amplify someone’s viewpoint and helps increase online readership and online sharing. This drives profits up, as payments are generated when ads are clicked. Fake news can go viral, thus increasing clicks and income, even more.
Student B questions: 1) What is Facebook doing? 2) What is Russia allegedly accused of? 3) What does ‘viral’ and ‘amplify’ mean? 4) Explain the meaning of ‘hoax’, ‘fake’ and ‘phoney’. 5) Who spreads propaganda? -- Roleplay, Grammar, Sentence Starters, Homework, etc.