Don’t be fooled!
Before we entrusted most of our information to the internet, a major way to get news was through newspapers, television – and, of course, friends and family.
One day of the year, though, our sources become just a little less trustworthy.
You could be minding your own business when a friend materializes out of nowhere and begins gushing about this wild rumor they heard about a sequel to your favorite movie, or maybe they would instead pull a prank on you.
Or maybe you visit a favorite website only to find out they’ve gone to extreme lengths to change it up (like these guys did).
Either way, it’s all meant to do one thing: get a reaction out of you.
After the mission is completed, they call you an April Fool and presumably continue their rampage by tricking another unsuspecting human.
And, despite knowing full well that April 1st is a day when people often do just that for their own amusement, we still fall for it.
It doesn’t matter if it’s just an innocent prank that’s all in fun or something more malicious – verifying the credibility of information is more crucial than ever. Scams are getting more and more clever, and news sources are often more focused on sensationalism than reporting actual news.
Here are a few actionable tips to help you discern fact from fiction:
- Cross-reference the information with reputable sources to ensure consistency.
- Look for the author’s credentials to establish credibility in the subject matter.
- Pay attention to the publication date to ensure the information is current and relevant.
- Be wary of sensational headlines that seem too good (or bad) to be true. They often are.
- Check for citations and references that support the claims made, as this indicates a level of research and reliability.
- Think critically, and consider the possible intentions behind what you see and hear.
By applying these strategies, you can protect yourself so that what you read, share, and act upon is rooted in truth.
Whether it’s April 1st, June 1st, or every other Friday at 4:00pm, stop and consider the source of all of your information. Regardless of the date or time, you can always count on me as a financial advisor to give it to you straight.
Want to talk about how we can help you meet your financial goals without extravagant and elaborate tall tales? Book a 15-minute consultation and chat about your plan, it’s easy – just click the buttons below.
