Glossary
Chain mail
Chain mail are emails, text messages or letters that ask the reader to send the message to other people. They usually contain some sort of threat that if it is not shared with a certain amount of people something bad would happen. But remember these claims are not true and are meant to scare people into sharing the message. Many hoaxes are shared through chain mail.
Counterfeit
It is a copy of something that was made specially to fool people into believing that it is real. For example, counterfeit art would be a copy of an artwork.
Cross-checking
Cross-checking is checking information in many places (secondary sources) to see if the information is true.
Fact-checking
Fact-checking is making sure the information is true by checking the original place the information comes from (primary source) and other places (secondary sources) to see if the information is true.
Fake News
Fake news are news stories that are not based on facts and evidence. They are basically hoaxes shared through social media or news websites and newspapers that contain false or some false information.
Glurge
Glurge is when people send stories that are full of emotions and seem nice, cute, sad or inspiring, but hide darker meanings. Glurge are stories that are too emotional and want to teach a lesson and convince you to believe they are true or want something from you by using strong feelings. For example, using sad puppies, angels, miracles, children, babies, to try to get something from you. The word glurge was created by a reader from the website www.snopes.com.
Hacker
A hacker is a person that breaks into a computer or other technological device to get private information and steal it.
Hoax
A hoax is something fake that was shared on purpose to fool people into believing it is true. People create hoaxes for various reasons: to become famous, get money, teach a lesson or make people think, have fun and use their imagination, to make people laugh and sometimes just for being malicious.
Malicious
Malicious comes from the word malice, which mean ill will or evil intent. Malicious hoaxes are the worst kind because they are created with the intention of causing harm.
Parody
Parody imitates or copies real things, but in an exaggerated and funny way. People usually know that it is not real.
Satire
Satire is very similar to parody, but they are different in the sense that satire does not imitate or copy, it just simply makes people think about serious matters using exaggerated humor.
Science Fiction
Science fiction is a type of story that is not true but uses science ideas to show how it could affect people. Some examples of Sci-Fi are stories about the future, outer space, aliens, technology, parallel universes, time travel, etc. Science fiction can sometimes become a reality.
Urban Legend
An urban legend is a story based on little or no evidence that is shared from person to person, like a rumor or gossip, as if it were true. The story is often scary or funny and sometimes teaches a lesson.