Can You Trust What You See?

Do you believe everything you see online?

Have you ever fallen for a fake story — even if only for a second?

In today’s world, fake news is everywhere. And now, we also have deepfakes — realistic videos or images that can completely fool our eyes and ears.

This reading lesson is for curious English learners who want to:

• Build real-world media awareness in English

• Improve reading skills and vocabulary

• Practice giving strong advice with had better and would rather

• Feel more confident spotting fake news before sharing it

📍 What Exactly Is Fake News?

Fake news is not new — but the advent of the internet and social media made it spread like wildfire.

People have always twisted stories for profit or power. But now, one shocking headline can go viral in seconds.

🏭 The Fake News Factory: A Teen’s Clickbait Empire in North Macedonia

One of the most famous examples of fake news came from Veles, North Macedonia during the 2016 U.S. election. A teenage boy discovered he could make serious money by publishing fake stories online.

He created dozens of websites with outrageous headlines like “The Pope Supports Trump” or “Hillary Gave Weapons to ISIS!” None of them were true — but they generated thousands of clicks. The more people shared them, the more ad money he made.

Some of these sites earned over $5,000 a month, which was a fortune in his country.

He didn’t care who won — he just wanted traffic. This is a reminder that fake news often spreads for profit, not politics.

💻 Why Does Fake News Spread So Easily?

Fake news is designed to grab your attention. It often plays on strong emotions like fear, anger, or excitement. That’s what makes it so persuasive.

Advertising networks don’t always check where ads appear. So, fake websites can make money just by generating views and clicks — even when the content is false.

Big tech companies have responded by working with fact-checkers and using AI tools to detect false content. But new websites pop up every day, and it’s not always easy to tell what’s real.

🤥 Deepfakes: When Even Your Eyes Lie

As if fake headlines weren’t enough, now we have deepfakes — videos or photos that show people saying or doing things they never did. These are created using AI technology and can be very realistic.

From fake celebrity interviews to politicians making false statements, deepfakes can pull a fast one on millions of people. And as this tech improves, the risk increases.

Even in history, people tried to rewrite the truth visually. Soviet leader Joseph Stalin removed political rivals from photos. Today, it only takes an app.

🎥 Watch this video to learn more:
Deepfake Videos Are Getting Real by The Verge
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2DDU4g0PRo

This short video explains how deepfakes are made and why they are so convincing.

🔍 How to Spot Fake News: A Practical Guide

Want to protect yourself and your reputation?

Here are 6 smart ways to avoid being fooled:

1️⃣ Nurture a questioning mind
Ask: Who benefits from this? Is it designed to make me emotional?

2️⃣ Check the source
Is it a real news outlet or a suspicious blog? Fake sites often have spelling mistakes or strange URLs.

3️⃣ Cross-check with other outlets
If a story is true, you’ll find it on trusted sources like the BBC, Reuters, or AP.

4️⃣ Look at the evidence
Does it include real quotes, data, or images? Or is it just opinion?

5️⃣ Don’t trust every image
Use tools like Google Reverse Image Search to check if the image is real, stolen, or edited.

6️⃣ Use common sense
If it sounds too crazy to be true, maybe it is. Pause before clicking “share.”

🧠 In short: Think. Check. Question.
You’d better protect yourself — or you might help fake news spread further.

⚖️ Are There Any Benefits to Fake News?

Believe it or not, not all fake news is dangerous.
Some websites like The Onion or The Babylon Bee are satire — fake on purpose to entertain or make fun of politics.

In fact, some researchers believe reading fake news — and correcting it — trains your brain to be sharper. You learn to look closely and spot small disparities between truth and fiction.

Still, fake news can also cause real harm:

• Spreading hate or fear

• Defaming people’s reputations

• Influencing elections or public opinion
  That’s why we’d rather stop it at the source.

🧾 Vocabulary Builder

Verbs & Idioms

• Pop up – to appear suddenly

• Flag – to mark something as suspicious

• To swing – to influence or change opinions

• Pull a fast one (idiom) – to trick someone

• Save the cheddar (slang) – to save your money

Nouns & Adjectives

• Persuasive – convincing

• Backlash – a strong negative reaction

• Misleading – giving the wrong impression

• Hoax – a false story made to trick people

• Advent – the arrival of something new

• Disparity – a clear difference

• Blatant – obvious and offensive

✅ Reading Comprehension Quiz

• What is a deepfake?
  A) A newspaper article
  B) An edited image/video that shows people doing or saying things they didn’t do

• Why did the North Macedonian teen create fake news sites?
  A) To support a political party
  B) To earn money

• Which tool can help verify an image?
  A) Instagram Filters
  B) Reverse Image Search

• Is all fake news harmful?
  A) Yes
  B) Not always — some is satire

📝 Answers

• ✅ B) An edited image/video that shows people doing or saying things they didn’t do

• ✅ B) To earn money

• ✅ B) Reverse Image Search

• ✅ B) Not always — some is satire

✏️ Practice Task

Write two pieces of strong advice about spotting fake news. Use had better or would rather.

Example:

• You’d better avoid sharing headlines before checking the source.

• I’d rather trust a real journalist than a meme on Facebook.

⚡ Final Thought

In a world where anyone can create convincing lies, truth matters more than ever.

Deepfakes, hoaxes, and fake headlines are here to stay — but you don’t have to fall for them.

You’d better keep your eyes open, question what you see, and use your English skills to think critically.

Stay smart. Stay sharp. Stay curious.

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