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. Right now, many people are discussing fake news. There are websites dedicated to this. Quite why fake news is allowed is beyond me, but these days, the internet allows this, as does social media. It makes it easy to spread fake or false news. This can also be government propaganda. TV channels have added their fake news, as well, which can also be for political reasons.

At a White House press conference recently, the new American president Donald Trump blasted CNN and the BBC for their fake news reporting on him. Both organisations were banned from the next White House press briefing. Donald Trump said, “Fake news is the enemy of the people, and they are”. He added, “They have no sources, they just make ‘em up, when there are none.” He has attacked The New York Times for their fake news. It sent readership subscriptions through the roof.

Russia, allegedly, has been accused of creating fake American news. Meanwhile, Facebook is supposedly fighting fake news. Really?