When Photos Lie

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.

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.”

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.”