Fake News Research Guide
"Fake News" is a term used to describe information from the media and other sources that isn't accurate. It can come in a variety of formats--online or print, for example--but recent shifts in media consumption mean that most of today's "fake news" is published online and shareable via social media.
There are many different motivations behind "fake news." It could be created as a joke or for a humorous effect; as political satire; for profit (as in clickbait); for political gain; to persuade and misinform; or accidentally.
The most common types of "fake news" include: satire, hoaxes, propaganda, inaccurate reporting, clickbait, conspiracy theories, and fraud.