Fake news is news that contains false or misleading information, which appears to be factual and is deliberately spread. Fake news is dangerous because it misleads people and states false things that can influence people’s opinions and decisions.

It is very important to bear in mind that fake news is often based on false arguments and errors in reasoning. For example, when

• You draw the wrong conclusion from a single case (for example, my grandmother never took any medicine, she died at 106, so if no one took medicine, everyone would live longer);
• misinterpreting cause and effect (I ate an orange yesterday and got sick, so oranges make you sick);
• influence/rank (just because a person with the rank of a scientist says something doesn't mean it is true, especially if 200 scientists say different things about the same thing).

Fake news articles try to influence us psychologically, often using terms that can arouse curiosity. Some typical examples are:

• "A shocking discovery!"
• "Now the truth will come out!"
• "According to a secret source..."
• "Shocking information has come to light!"
• "They deny this fact, but we bring the truth!"
• "Secret documents leaked"
• "An incredible turn of events: no one expected this!"
• "A shocking announcement has shaken the world!