This fake photo has been around since at least 2011. The real shot of the shark (left) was taken off the coast of South Africa in 2005.

THOMAS P. PESCHAK/National Geographic Creative (real); via Twitter (fake)

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When Photos Lie

Fake images are tricking countless people online. Here’s why that matters—and what you can do to avoid getting fooled.

April 29, 2019
By Jennifer Li Shotz

The photo pops up on your screen and your eyes nearly pop out of your head. Is that a great white shark swimming on a flooded highway? The person who posted the photo says it was taken after Hurricane Harvey slammed Texas in August 2017.

You immediately share the picture with your friends. But guess what? You’ve just fallen for a hoax. Someone used photo-editing software to combine a picture of the fearsome creature with one of a flooded road.

Hundreds of thousands of people have liked or shared the phony shark photo. It usually goes viral after big storms. It’s just one example of a growing problem online: fake photos. 

The photo pops up on your screen. Your eyes nearly pop out of your head. Is that a great white shark swimming on a flooded highway? The person who posted the photo says it was taken after Hurricane Harvey. The storm slammed Texas in August 2017.

You immediately share the picture with your friends. But guess what? You’ve just fallen for a hoax. Someone used photo-editing software to combine a picture of the fearsome creature with one of a flooded road.

Hundreds of thousands of people have liked or shared the phony shark photo. It usually goes viral after big storms. It’s just one example of a growing problem online: fake photos.

The Power of Pictures

You’ve probably heard people talk about “fake news.” That’s the term for articles that are made to look like real news but are actually made-up. Each day, countless fake articles get passed around on social media.

Like made-up news, phony photos can make people believe things that aren’t true. Experts say they can be even more powerful than fake articles because we often believe what we see more than what we read.

You’ve probably heard people talk about “fake news.” That’s the term for articles that are made to look like real news but are actually made-up. Each day, countless fake articles get passed around on social media.

Like made-up news, phony photos can make people believe things that aren’t true. Experts say they can be even more powerful than fake articles. That’s because we often believe what we see more than what we read. 

What’s the Harm?

Most fake photos are pretty harmless. People often create them to get a laugh or a lot of likes on social media. Maybe they want to trick friends into thinking they own a 200-pound cat or that Taylor Swift came to their birthday party.

But others do it for a more harmful purpose. For example, many fake photos are meant to make political leaders look bad. The goal is to spread lies in order to change the way people think or how they vote. 

“With the right image and the right headline, you can make people believe all sorts of things,” says John Silva. He works for the News Literacy Project, a group that helps students learn to find reliable news sources.

Most fake photos are pretty harmless. People often create them to get a laugh. Or they want a lot of likes on social media. Maybe they want to trick friends into thinking they own a 200-pound cat or that Taylor Swift came to their birthday party.

But others do it for a more harmful purpose. For example, many fake photos are meant to make political leaders look bad. The goal is to spread lies. They want the lies to change the way people think or how they vote.

“With the right image and the right headline, you can make people believe all sorts of things,” says John Silva. He works for the News Literacy Project. The group helps students learn to find reliable news sources.

Stop the Spread

A click or a tap. That’s all it takes to post a fake photo online. And once it starts spreading, it can be hard to stop. Experts say the more likes and shares a photo racks up, the more likely we are to think it’s real.

So how can you help stop the spread of fake photos? Silva says the key is to be skeptical. 

“If something doesn’t look right, take a step back,” says Silva. “Start asking questions.”

A click or a tap. That’s all it takes to post a fake photo online. And once it starts spreading, it can be hard to stop. Experts say the more likes and shares a photo racks up, the more likely we are to think it’s real.

So how can you help stop the spread of fake photos? Silva says the key is to be skeptical.

“If something doesn’t look right, take a step back,” says Silva. “Start asking questions.”

martinedoucet/Getty Images (bus); gillmar/Shutterstock.com (standing polar bear); iStockPhoto/Getty Images (polar bear); kate_sept2004/Getty Images (profile photo)

1. How do the photos on page 2 help you understand the article’s first two paragraphs?

2. How are fake photos similar to fake news? How are they different?

3. Summarize why some people create fake photos.

4. Explain why you should be skeptical about the photo in the sidebar, “Don’t Fall for a Fake.”

1. How do the photos on page 2 help you understand the article’s first two paragraphs?

2. How are fake photos similar to fake news? How are they different?

3. Summarize why some people create fake photos.

4. Explain why you should be skeptical about the photo in the sidebar, “Don’t Fall for a Fake.”

Close-Reading Questions

Click the Google Quiz button below to share these Close-Reading Questions with your class.

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