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In 2017, 鈥渇ake news鈥 was named word of the year by Collins Dictionary, beating 鈥淚nsta鈥, 鈥渦nicorn鈥 and 鈥渇idget spinner鈥 to claim the top spot.

It took social media by storm, and became synonymous with the then US President Donald Trump, who often used the term to criticise the media.

But to suggest that 2017 was the origin of the concept would be, well 鈥榝ake news鈥. It鈥檚 actually been around much, much longer than you think鈥

Check out our short video and learn more about the history of fake news and how it impacts our lives. Read the tips at the bottom to avoid falling foul of fake news online.

So, now you know more about fake news of the past, how can you avoid falling for it in the present?

Here are three top tips to help you steer clear of fake news:

1. Always check the source

When considering whether the news you鈥檙e reading and watching is real or fake, a good starting point is to always check the source.

It鈥檚 best to go to reputable, trustworthy news outlets with fact-checkers to make sure the story is correct.

Learn more about finding reliable sources.

2. Three before it鈥檚 good-for-me

If you鈥檙e trying to determine whether something you鈥檝e read is fact or fiction, it鈥檚 always good to double and triple check.

If a story is being widely reported from lots of different (reliable!) sources, the greater the odds are that it鈥檚 real.

Check out this video on how journalists fact-check a story.

3. Impartiality is important

Even if a story isn鈥檛 fake, it's important to be aware of how balanced it is. Some news stories don't include all angles, either emphasising or omitting information, and this could sway you towards a particular decision or view, leading to bias.

Being biased can impact your decisions and reactions, because having strong views might make you overlook facts and other people's viewpoints. This could also make you less inclined to question the things you see online, especially if those things align with your personal views, and you could end up sharing and spreading misinformation.

Misinformation is when someone spreads fake news by mistake, unaware that the things they are spreading are false. Learn more about misinformation.

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Not sure if the news you鈥檙e seeing on social media is true or false? Can you always tell if the things you see online are real or fake? Learn how to get the other side of the story with our quizzes, videos and explainers.