Separating real and fake news online

Just because people are talking about something online doesn’t mean that something exists. Especially if it’s something really stupid you would like to believe about stupid people.

The Tide Pod challenge was largely a figment of people’s imagination. But Tide speaking out against teens eating the dangerous pods on purpose helped cover up the problem of toddlers and the elderly thinking the colorful pods looked like something good to eat.

Take, for example, Rep. Jack Kimble from California’s 54th district. Neither Kimble nor the 54th district exist.

But he sure likes to post trolly comments that can catch even reasonably savvy internet users… Like the Washington Post…. or me….

It can be very difficult for brands to avoid advertising on web sites they find objectionable or damaging to their brands.

So much of the selling of online ads is done by automation with no real accountability on where the ads go. But companies can fight back.

One of the reasons why we still have The New Yorker around as so many other magazines have been dying off is because they work really hard at making sure their articles are based on reality.

And one of the ways they do this is through the employment of smart and hard working fact checkers to make sure their articles are true.

And finally…

Paddington Bear visits Silent Hill. Because, well, why not?