In today’s world, where AI-driven internet disinformation is a major concern, the age-old tradition of the humble newspaper April Fool’s story can sometimes feel out of place. But just how good are you at detecting fake news from real news? Below are 20 stories from the past year – some true, some made up, and some twisted versions of almost true events. Can you spot the difference?
From Meghan Markle’s questionable lifestyle brand to Greg Wallace’s “documentary” on lab-grown human meat, these stories are designed to test your news-sleuthing skills. Whether it’s Australian politician Bob Katter’s late-night antics or the UK government’s costly high-speed train line, there are plenty of tricky tales to navigate.
And if you need a little motivation to keep going, enjoy a two-minute supercut of Jonathan Frakes telling you “it’s fake news” from his show Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction. Let his charismatic voice guide you through the murky waters of misinformation and help you sharpen your ability to discern fact from fiction.
So dive in, challenge yourself, and see how well you fare in this quiz of modern news literacy. And remember, in a world filled with AI-driven internet disinformation, being able to spot fake news is a valuable skill that everyone should cultivate. Good luck!