The “Too Long, Didn't Read” version of this article is this: Fake news. We’ve all fallen for these articles from time to time. They have eye appealing titles, website links that seem like they come from credible sources. These websites spew false information online and online content consumers will share it as if it was the truth. Why do they do this? To make a buck or two off of advertisements that are sprawled all over their websites. The best way to understand what these fake news sites look like and how they act is to show you how you can make your own fake news site!

Let’s get down to business. The first thing you’ll need is to get a website name. Seems difficult, right? Well, you can easily get a “.tk” domain name for free! If you want something that looks more official, you can stop by NameCheap.com for cheap domain names. Once you choose your path, you’ll then have to come up with the actual name of the domain. I like the ones with a slight mis-spelling or a different number. For example, instead of fox5.com, we can use foxx5 or fox57. Many people don’t read the domain name once the website is posted on social media anyway. After you get your domain name, you can use any free website creator you’d like. Try and make it close to what a news site would look like. If you do a spinoff of a local newspaper, you can make it as simple as you’d like. Remember to also place a disclaimer on the bottom of the page. This disclaimer should include that your website is satire, this way you won’t get in trouble for slander.

Now, you have your website. Next we need a topic to pretend that happened. The best articles are ones that are about current events or about someone who is currently in the spotlight. This could be a pregnant celebrity, a certain politician, or a celebrity who just played a huge gig. Someone who is currently in the spotlight will get more attention than a washed up celebrity who you never hear of. Once you choose a victim, come up with a story that sounds like it could definitely happen. You’ll have to sell your fake news to hundreds of people, make it seem believable but still shocking. For instance, this article that was written last year stating that a shooting occurred in Capitol Hill. (Do not visit this website, it has been found to host malicious software that can damage your computer).

It’s something somewhat believable, but shocking. Other examples include overdoses, murders, marriages, divorces, attacks, or anything in between.

Once you think of your story, we need to place ads on the website. This will ensure you to generate cash flow from gullible people who read your articles. You can use Google AdSense, Adf.ly, or any other one you find. All you’ll have to do is add a line of code into your post, and an ad will appear.

Finally, all you have to do is share the link. You can send it to larger Facebook pages, promote it on Facebook, insert it into comments, or any other means of sharing you can find. You’re sure to find some suckers…. I mean readers who want to share your article!

So, why did I share all of this information with you? It’s easier to understand how to counter attack something that you know, versus something that you have no idea on how people do it. In order to avoid these websites, we need to be aware that they are out there, and how they are organized. Most of these websites will use names that are close to an original news site, while others create a new persona. A mass amount of ads can also be a giveaway. But there’s one way to know if a news article is faked or a hoax: doing your own research.

When you see an article online, you should always have some skepticism. But if something seems off, look more into it. The most recent example I can give was with the dog from “A Dogs Purpose”. A video was released that depicted someone placing a frantic dog into the water and allowing it to drown in the name of entertainment. Later, an investigation from the American Humane Association deemed that it was fake and that there was no stress on the dog. However, people riled up at the video because how bad it is to treat an animal like that. The video was actually two videos put together. The first part showed the dog panicking, and the trainer taking it out of the water. The investigation stated that they did not continue with filming that day. The second part of the video shows that the dog is swimming, and then gets pulled down under the water. Handlers quickly grabbed the dog and pulled it out of the water. This occurred on a different day, and the investigation states that the dog wanted to go back into the water after that shot was taken. The video was faked in order to rile people up and get people angry.

(I don’t believe it was right for the director to use a real dog for that scene, nor would I put an animal in the situation, but the example shows how people paint a different picture of the truth.)

At the end of the day, everyone should have a healthy dose of skepticism, and nobody should rely only on social media as a news resource. Do your own research, come up with your own conclusions, and don’t fall for these silly traps.